Army West Point Athletics
From the Desk of AD #31
March 20, 2025 | General
Dear Army West Point Community,
Welcome to the second edition of From the Desk of AD #31, a new communication designed to keep you informed and engaged with Army West Point Athletics and the Army West Point Athletic Association (AWPAA). As your Director of Athletics, I am excited to use this space to share key updates on our department, highlight the achievements of our cadet-athletes, engage with topics relating to the fan experience, and provide insight into the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics.
A priority early in my tenure is to connect with our amazing cadets and Coaches. Recently, I had some fun visiting with the softball and women's lacrosse programs. I also got to experience cadet basic training.Â
Had a great time connecting with some of our incredible cadet-athletes and coaches today.#OnlyAtWestPoint #Sore pic.twitter.com/4TlfELtvdO
— Tom Theodorakis (@TT_Army_AD) March 18, 2025
At the World's Preeminent Leader Development Institution, our mission is to build, train, educate, and inspire every day.
— Tom Theodorakis (@TT_Army_AD) February 24, 2025
This weekend, we saw that mission come to life in truly remarkable ways!#OnlyAtWestPoint pic.twitter.com/gD2K9eBLCW
Phil Buttafuoco Hired as Deputy Athletics Director, Business Development & Fan Experience
I couldn't be more excited to welcome Phil Buttafuoco to our Senior Leadership Team. Many of our Army team members had the opportunity to work with Phil directly during the planning and execution of the Army-Navy game in New England in 2023.Â
Buttafuoco joins Army after spending the last 18 years (2007-2025) as the executive director of special events for Kraft Sports + Entertainment.Â
"Phil Buttafuoco has been an invaluable member of the Kraft Sports + Entertainment team for the past 18 years," said Robert Kraft, Chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group. "His leadership and dedication have helped shape some of the most memorable events in our history, including the successful bid to bring the Army-Navy Game to Gillette Stadium and the 2016 NHL Winter Classic. We are deeply grateful for his contributions and wish him all the best as he embarks on this new chapter at Army West Point. "Â Â
Phil will oversee AWPAA external operations areas, including Strategic Communications (athletic communications, digital and social strategies, creative and video services, and broadcasting), Licensing and Branding and Business Development & Revenue Generation (Marketing, Fan engagement, Ticketing, Ticket Sales, and Sponsorships).
MORE BASKETBALL!
Both the women's and men's basketball teams have accepted invitations to play in the postseason. It is the first time both programs qualified for a postseason tournament in the same year since 2016.
The women's basketball team (24-7) has accepted an invitation to participate in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), following a runner-up finish in the Patriot League Tournament. They begin the WNIT with a game vs. the Bryant Bulldogs (17-14, 9-7), from the America East conference on Thursday, March 20 in Smithfield, Rhode Island with tip scheduled for 5 pm. Watch the send off video here!
The men's basketball team will participate in the Purple College Basketball Invitational campaign in Daytona Beach, Florida, on March 23 with a matchup against the Elon University Phoenix. The Sunday matchup will tip-off at 2 p.m.
Wrestling Set for NCAA's This Weekend
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Army West Point Wrestling is set for the 2025 NCAA Championships at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, March 20-22. The seven wrestlers that Army features are tied for the second most the program has sent to an NCAA Championship, having most recently sent seven wrestlers to St. Louis in 2021.
Army's wrestlers are the following, with their seeds attached:
125:Â Charles Farmer, No. 25
133:Â Ethan Berginc, No. 27
149:Â Trae McDaniel, No. 16
165:Â Gunner Filipowicz, No. 20
174:Â Dalton Harkins, No. 25
197:Â Wolfgang Frable, No. 32
285:Â Brady Colbert, No. 22
Baseball Visits Arlington National Cemetery
Recently the baseball team visited Arlington National Cemetery following its three-game series at Navy.
We had a very memorable time today at the Arlington National Cemetery! pic.twitter.com/PylRc2EKmt
— Army Baseball (@ArmyWP_Baseball) March 17, 2025
An end of a remarkable legacy…
The hockey team fell last weekend in the Atlantic Hockey America Semifinals to Holy Cross as the Crusaders won the series 2-0. The season marks the end of the Brian Riley era which spanned the past 21 seasons, as Riley amassed 258 wins, the fifth-most in Atlantic Hockey history while being named the conference's Coach of the Year a record four times.
Not the ending that ??@ArmyWP_Hockey? was hoping for tonight. I'm so proud of this team and what they accomplished this season. I will be forever grateful to the players and staff for bringing me on this ride. Lastly thanks to my family for always being there. Love you. pic.twitter.com/I0ii7FtEHB
— Brian Riley (@Coach_BRiley) March 16, 2025
The men's lacrosse program has started the season 7-0 and heads into a big home matchup vs. Boston University on Saturday, March 22. For the second time in program history, men's lacrosse has started 7-0 in back-to-back seasons (1953-54).
The women's basketball team competed last Sunday in the Patriot League Championship game, ultimately falling to Lehigh. Army was appearing in the Patriot League Championship game for the first time since 2016. Coach Missy Traversi and Army have had a remarkable season, securing its most wins (24) in a season since 2013-14, tied for the third most wins in a season in program history and did not lose back-to-back games once all season. Army's .800%-win percentage is tied for the second-best in a season in program annuals as well.
Softball recently completed a 3-1 weekend record in the Mount Softball Invitational in Emmitsburg, Md earning wins over UAlbany and Mount Saint Mary's.
Did you Know?Â
From our very own Conor McCorry (Athletic Communications), Army West Point (and Penn State) join Michigan and Ohio State as the only schools in the past ten years to have an athlete in the Heisman Trophy top-10 and Hobey Baker Award top-10 in the same academic year with Bryson Daily and Mac Gadowsky. Army and PSU are now the eighth and ninth school's all-time to achieve this.
Army West Point (and Penn State) join Michigan and Ohio State as the only schools in the past ten years to have an athlete in the @HeismanTrophy top-10 and @HobeyBakerAward top-10 in the same academic year with Bryson Daily and Mac Gadowsky.
— Conor McCorry (@conormccorry) March 19, 2025
Army and PSU are now the eighth and… https://t.co/Y6gikLGLmO
Star Series Update
The Army-Navy Star Series is heating up with Army West Point currently leading 11-9! Most recently baseball dropped the star series losing two games to one at the hands of Navy. Â
Remaining Star Series games include Men's and Women's Lacrosse, Men's and Women's Tennis & Outdoor Men's and Women's Track Field.
To view the complete schedule of Army-Navy competitions visit the Army-Navy Game website
Recent and upcoming USMA Events
Plebe Parent Weekend (March 14-16) recently concluded with various activities, including presentations, open houses, tours, a parade, and a banquet in the cadet mess hall.Â
Cora Webber, from the women's swim & dive program, was selected as the First Captain for Plebe Parent Weekend, after completing a rigorous selection process. Her duties included commanding, overseeing, and supervising all activities for the weekend.
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A HUGE shoutout to our very own Cora Webber who was selected as First Captain for Plebe Parent Weekend! She will command, oversee, and supervise all activities this weekend.
— Army Swimming & Diving (@ArmyWP_SwimDive) March 11, 2025
We're so proud of you, Cora! ??#GoArmy | #RelentlessPursuit pic.twitter.com/Q9WiZvW9cj
The annual Sandhurst Military Skills Competition will take place at the U.S. Military Academy on May 2 and 3.
And West Point Projects Day Research Symposium will occur on April 24. The event will showcase more than 400 research projects by over 1,000 cadets across all 13 of the Dean's academic departments, Department of Military Instruction, and the Department of Physical Education!
Upcoming Schedule
Check out all our athletic competitions home and away that are coming up, highlighted by postseason men's and women's basketball and lacrosse matchups.Â
Check out all of the events coming up for our Black Knights on post and on the road!
— ArmyWestPoint Sports (@GoArmyWestPoint) March 17, 2025
Which ones will you be attending? pic.twitter.com/2IVv00vjHQ
Alumni HighlightÂ
Army Men's Soccer alum General (Ret.) Scott Miller ('83) discusses his nearly 40-year US Army career and also how sports prepared him for military success in the latest episode of Inside West Point: Ideas that Impact from the West Point Dean
THANK YOU
Thank you, readers, for your positive feedback following the first edition of my newsletter two weeks ago. I'd ask you to continue to do what you can to support Army West Point Athletics and our cadet-athletes by:
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• Attending athletics events and competitions – home and on the road!
• Purchase season tickets, join the Army A Club, and become a corporate partner
• Get others to do the same
Tom Theodorakis
Director of Athletics
Army West Point
Email: AthleticDirector@WestPoint.edu
X: @TT_Army_AD