From the Desk of AD #31

Hello Army West Point Community,
Welcome back to another edition of From the Desk of the AD - a platform from my perspective to keep you informed, engaged, and connected with everything happening in Army West Point Athletics and the Army West Point Athletic Association. Through this message, I'll be sharing important department updates, celebrating the accomplishments of our outstanding cadet-athletes, and offering insights into the dynamic world of college athletics. All of this is grounded in the four pillars of our Fruits of Victory strategic plan: Competitive Success, Delivering an Extraordinary Division I Experience, Public Engagement and Revenue Generation, and Sustainability.
It's an exciting time to be around the Academy - you can feel the energy; it's palpable. Reunions are returning, graduation is fast approaching, and, if you can believe it, we're even starting to get some warm weather. As always, I couldn't be prouder of our cadet-athletes, who are competing at the highest levels across all of our programs and representing this institution in a first-class manner.
For those in the Chicago area, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at my final Founders Day speaking engagement. Go Army!

FOOTBALL RETURNS TO MICHIE STADIUM
Our annual Spring Football game, Friday Knight Lights, is almost here and it's about time for a sneak peek at how the Black Knights are shaping up for the 2026 season. Join us at Michie Stadium on Friday, April 17^th at 6:30 p.m. ET to catch the action and be sure to tune in for a special edition of "This Week in Army Football" from 5:30-6:30 p.m. ET leading up to kickoff.

1?? week until Friday Knight Lights at Michie Stadium!

• FREE ADMISSION!
• Parking lots will open at 4:30 PM
• Concession stands will be open before & during the game
• Special edition of This Week in Army Football from 5:30-6:30 PM
? https://t.co/dGkQnlqEGE pic.twitter.com/d1x8YlASpJ
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) April 10, 2026

REMEMBERING BOB NOVOGRATZ
On behalf of the entire Army West Point Athletics family, we extend our heartfelt condolences as we mourn the passing of Bob Novogratz '59. A 2011 inductee into the Army Sports Hall of Fame, Bob was also recently selected for induction into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame and was an outstanding wrestler. His lasting impact on the Black Knights will be remembered for generations. Legendary coach "Red" Blaik once described Novogratz as the "sword and flame" of the Army defense.

Army West Point Football mourns the passing of Bob Novogratz '59.

Novogratz was recently selected for induction into the @NFFNetwork College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2026 and was inducted in to the Army Sport Hall of Fame in 2011. pic.twitter.com/P32l6izjrJ
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) April 15, 2026

MAGGIE DIXON NCAA DIVISION I ROOKIE COACH OF THE YEAR
Women's Basketball Head Coach Katie Kuester was named the 2026 Spalding® Maggie Dixon NCAA Division I Rookie Coach of the Year as announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association earlier this month. Kuester's selection marks the first time that an Army head coach has received the honor, named in honor of the late Maggie Dixon who, in her inaugural season as Army's head coach, led the Black Knights to the 2006 Patriot League title and their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship tournament. Congratulations to Coach Kuester and her on an incredible season representing the Black Knights and the entire Army Women's Basketball program!

That's our leader ??

Katie Kuester is the 2026 Spalding® Maggie Dixon NCAA Division I Rookie Coach of the Year! #GoArmy | #SetTheTone pic.twitter.com/ahxPzApZXg
— Army Women's Basketball (@ArmyWP_WBB) April 1, 2026

STAR GAME MAGIC AT MICHIE STADIUM
I would like to congratulate our men's lacrosse team on earning its fourth consecutive victory over Navy this past Saturday, in front of a program-record crowd of more than 15,000 fans. It was the highest-attended game in all of college lacrosse this season and featured many memorable moments, including a powerful rendition of the national anthem by WWII veteran Dominick Critelli before the game.

Thank you to our incredible fans and dedicated staff, whose tireless efforts made this moment possible. What sets West Point apart is its fans - and you truly showed it.

?? ARMY WINS ??#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/yXDBfricMz
— Army Men's Lacrosse (@ArmyWP_MLax) April 11, 2026

It was an absolute honor to have WWII veteran Dominick Critelli at Michie Stadium to play the national anthem at yesterday's game just days after his 105th birthday!#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/93vGOKCCAT
— Army Men's Lacrosse (@ArmyWP_MLax) April 12, 2026

FULL SPEED AHEAD IN THE OUTDOOR STAR MEET
Our women's track & field team earned its first victory over Navy in the outdoor Star Meet on Saturday, outscoring the Mids 108-95. With wins in 12 of the 19 events on the schedule for the women at the meet, this accomplishment showcases the incredible dedication and effort the team and Head Coach Mike Smith have invested in this season.

SINGING SECOND??

For the first time since 2014, the Army women's track and field team win the outdoor meet over Navy!#GoArmy | #BeatNavy pic.twitter.com/PBadG0m7Mq
— Army Track & XC (@ArmyWP_TrackXC) April 11, 2026

RABBLE ROUSERS SHINE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE
The Rabble Rousers competed at the NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championships in Daytona Beach last week and earned a pair of program-best finishes with their efforts. This is an incredible accomplishment from a group that shows so much support to so many teams, and we are excited to celebrate their accomplishment with them at their own competition!

HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Our men's and women's lacrosse teams made history this week as the first school in the country to see members of their teams drafted in the first round of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and Women's Lacrosse League (WLL) College Drafts in the same season. Evan Plunkett was selected fourth overall in the PLL College Draft by the Denver Outlaws on Tuesday night before Brigid Duffy was selected third overall in the WLL College Draft by the Maryland Charm on Wednesday night. This accomplishment speaks to the efforts of our athletic department to guide the growth of our cadet-athletes and encourage them to success in all of their endeavors.

With the fourth pick of the 2026 @PremierLacrosse College Draft the @DenverOutlaws select Evan Plunkett ??????#FamilyToughnessTradition pic.twitter.com/xJ86cHdXtq
— Army Men's Lacrosse (@ArmyWP_MLax) April 14, 2026

With the third pick…..#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/cHTrsNiTZw
— Army Women's Lacrosse (@ArmyWP_WLax) April 15, 2026

ON THE PITCH FOR PLAYOFFS
Men's Rugby is making a push in the 2026 College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) playoffs after defeating their first postseason opponent, Arkansas State, in a decisive 42-17 win on Friday. The squad will take on Navy at Annapolis in the next round on Saturday, April 18^th at 11 a.m. ET. Join us in cheering the team on as they fight to continue their 2026 campaign!

1-0 in the playoffs! pic.twitter.com/IMaDkzcIuX
— Army Men's Rugby (@ArmyWP_MRugby) April 11, 2026

MORALES NAMED MA SORENSON AWARD FINALIST
Women's rugby junior Yesenia Morales was named a finalist for the MA Sorenson Award this week. The award is named after MaryAnn Sorensen, a groundbreaking USA Rugby player and member of the 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup winning team, and is awarded to the top collegiate women's rugby player in the United States. Morales has helped lead the Black Knights through an impressive 2025-26 campaign and her recognition as announced by the Goff Rugby Report on Monday highlights the effort Penny Anderson Women's Rugby Head Coach Jenn Salomon-Clayton and the Black Knights have shown this season.

TAKE IT TO THE FLOOR
The 2026 ECAC Gymnastics Regular Season Champions earned third place overall at the 2026 ECAC Championships earlier this month in Christl Arena. The Black Knights delivered incredible performances at the Championship meet and now turn their attention to the 2026 NCAA Championships in Champagne, Ill. over April 17-18.

BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL HOT AT THE PLATE
Our baseball and softball teams continue to fight for league positioning in their 2025-26 campaigns. Baseball earned a series win over Lehigh last week with a 2-1 mark in their series in Bethlehem followed by an 18-8 win over Wagner at home on Tuesday while softball earned a sweep over Lehigh at home last week before picking up two wins over Iona on Wednesday. Join us in cheering on our diamond sports as they approach the end of their regular seasons!

SERVE'S UP FOR MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS
Men's and women's tennis have worked hard on the courts this season and the two squads are now approaching postseason play. Men's tennis faces Navy in Annapolis on Saturday for the 2026 Star Match before heading to their Patriot League Championships next week while our women's tennis team concludes their regular season efforts at Bucknell on Friday, April 17^th before taking on their Patriot League Championships. We wish the best of luck to these two teams as they reach the culmination of their seasons!

THANK YOU
I'd ask you to continue to do what you can to support Army West Point Athletics and our cadet-athletes by:
• Planning to attend athletics events and competitions – home and on the road!
• Purchasing season tickets, joining the Army A Club, and becoming a corporate partner
• Wear the colors
• Get others to do the same

BEAT NAVY!

Tom Theodorakis
Director of Athletics
Army West Point
Email: AthleticDirector@WestPoint.edu
X: @TT_Army_AD

Army West Point Athletics

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