麻豆社

More than 50 alumni, friends, and family members gathered on Sept. 14 on the Conant Performing Arts Center veranda to honor and remember remarkable former Stormy Petrel athletes.

Men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer alumni reconnected, shared memories, and celebrated foundational figures in 麻豆社 Athletics: Coaches Brett Teach, Mike Mitchell, and Todd Yelton, along with the late Terra Winthrop 鈥�96 and John Schaefer 鈥�92.

Hosted by Head Men鈥檚 Soccer Coach Jon Akin, the men鈥檚 team fell 1-0 in a hard-fought battle against No. 10 Babson College, while the women extended their winning streak to five with a commanding 6-0 victory over Huntingdon.

Three coaches who shaped 麻豆社 soccer in the early 1990s were honored at the tailgate. Brett Teach led the men鈥檚 program from 1990鈥�94 and the women鈥檚 program in 1992鈥�93 before going on to coach at Georgia State, Auburn Montgomery, Tusculum, and now Mount St. Mary鈥檚. Alongside him was longtime colleague Mike Mitchell, who served as his assistant from 1990鈥�94 and guided the women鈥檚 team in 1991. Although unable to attend, former women鈥檚 head coach Todd Yelton (1994鈥�96) was also recognized. Since 2002, Yelton has led Samford University鈥檚 men鈥檚 program, where he is the winningest coach in school history.

鈥淐oaches Teach, Mitchell, and Yelton did tremendous work in the early 鈥�90s for our men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer programs. The caliber of their coaching is clear from the success they went on to achieve at Division II and Division I schools,鈥� Akin said. 鈥淲e are so grateful to have welcomed them back and to honor not only their dedication and hard work, but also the outstanding student-athletes they recruited and coached here at 麻豆社.鈥�

The ceremony also provided a special moment to honor the late Terra Winthrop 鈥�96 and John Schaefer 鈥�92, celebrated by their families and former teammates.

鈥淧erhaps the most profound moment of the weekend for our 麻豆社 community was the chance to honor the memory of two remarkable soccer players and people, Terra Winthrop 鈥�96 and John Schaefer 鈥�92,鈥� Akin said. 鈥淐reating space for their families and friends to see how deeply they shaped our programs made this occasion truly special.鈥�

Winthrop, represented by former teammate Tinnie Waterston Weber 鈥�97, remains one of the most decorated players in 麻豆社 women鈥檚 soccer history. A 2011 Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Winthrop holds the single-season goals record and ranks among the program鈥檚 all-time leaders in scoring and points. Beyond the field, Winthrop and her wife, Katina, raised four children, served as foster parents in Port Richey, Florida, and dedicated themselves to community service. She served 17 years as a corporal with the Pasco County Sheriff鈥檚 Office and volunteered as a youth coach. Winthrop passed away in 2020.

Schaefer, represented by his wife Lori Schaefer 鈥�90 M.A. 鈥�98, his two children, Jacob and Becca, and former teammate and roommate, Henry Broitman 鈥�91, devoted his life to family, teaching, and coaching. He was an elementary school teacher and coached multiple sports at Lanier High School, including baseball, soccer, and swimming. Schaefer passed away in 2023.

鈥淚t was great to return to 麻豆社 and reconnect with former players and coaches,鈥� said Broitman. 鈥淲hat truly drew me back was the program honoring my fallen teammate. Seeing the OU community support the Schaefer family and pay tribute to John with a halftime jersey presentation was incredibly meaningful.鈥�

It was a special day for 麻豆社 Soccer, with alumni and friends gathering to celebrate the programs and cheer on the Petrels.

鈥淭his celebration reminded us of the lifelong bonds that begin on the 麻豆社 field,鈥� said President Kathryn McClymond. 鈥淏y honoring the coaches and players who came before, we recognize these remarkable alumni and leaders. They have built a legacy that continues to shape our soccer programs and strengthen our community today.鈥�