Lake Erie Storm Football: A History of Gridiron Glory
Lake Erie College, nestled in Painesville, Ohio, is home to the Lake Erie Storm, the athletic teams representing the institution in intercollegiate sports. As a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Storm primarily compete in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) since the 2017-18 academic year. While Lake Erie College boasts a diverse athletic program, including 15 varsity teams (8 men's and 7 women's), the football program holds a special place in the college's athletic history. This article delves into the journey of Lake Erie College football, tracing its origins, celebrating its achievements, and highlighting the key figures who have shaped its identity. The Storm's football stadium is Jack Britt Memorial Stadium.
Early Years and the Rise of the Storm
The Lake Erie varsity football program is a relatively recent addition to the college's athletic offerings, beginning in 2008. Despite its youth, the program quickly gained recognition for its offensive prowess and individual talent.
Offensive Fireworks and National Recognition
The 2013 season was a watershed moment for the Lake Erie football program. The Storm offense exploded onto the national scene, finishing the season ranked number one in total offense among all NCAA Division II teams. This remarkable achievement showcased the team's ability to move the ball and score points, establishing them as a force to be reckoned with.
Anthony Bilal: A Harlon Hill Finalist
In 2014, running back Anthony Bilal etched his name into Lake Erie football history with a remarkable individual performance. Bilal's exceptional season culminated in his nomination as a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. On his way to finishing third in the national player of the year balloting, Bilal rushed 254 times to gain 2,091 yards and score 29 rushing touchdowns. This recognition underscored Bilal's talent and the program's ability to produce elite-level players.
First NFL Signing: Anthony Kukwa
The Lake Erie football program achieved another milestone in 2017 when tight end and long snapper Anthony Kukwa became the first Storm student-athlete to sign an NFL contract. Kukwa agreed to a three-year undrafted free agent rookie contract with the Oakland Raiders, marking a significant step forward for the program and providing inspiration for future generations of Storm football players. In May 2017, tight end and long snapper Anthony Kukwa became the first Storm student-athlete to sign an NFL contract, agreeing to a three-year undrafted free agent rookie contract with the Oakland Raiders.
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Conference Affiliations and Championships
Since joining the NCAA Division II ranks, Lake Erie student-athletes have earned 55 All-American honors and five conference championships along with three individual National Champions. At various times in its history prior to joining the AMCC, Lake Erie competed as a member of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Small College Athletic Association (NSCAA). Since the 2017-18 academic year, Lake Erie primarily competes in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC).
Other Athletic Achievements
Since joining the NCAA Division II ranks, Lake Erie student-athletes have earned 55 All-American honors and five conference championships along with three individual National Champions. The 2013-14 academic year has proved to be the most successful in the institution's history with six teams (baseball, men's lacrosse, men's swimming, men's indoor and outdoor track & field, and wrestling) earning top 25 national rankings or NCAA tournament bids. One of Lake Erie's All-Americans, baseball player Ryan Rua, was a 17th round draft pick of the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball in 2011 - the first professional draft pick in school history. Rua made his major league debut with the Rangers on August 29, 2014 and ended his first call-up with a .295 batting average, two homeruns, and 14 runs batted in, in 28 appearances. Outfielder Luke Raley became the second Lake Erie player drafted when the Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the seventh round of the 2016 MLB draft. For his career, Raley hit .379 with a .471 on-base percentage and a .654 slugging percentage. Lake Erie men's basketball enjoyed its most success competing as an NCAA Division III program. The Storm men's lacrosse program was a founding member of the East Coast Athletic Conference Division II Lacrosse League which formed in 2012 and played its first competitive season in 2013. In 2013, just its fourth year in competition, the men's lacrosse team reached the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals and junior Trevor Tarte led the nation in goal scoring. In 2015, the team reached the NCAA Division II Semifinals having defeated the University of Tampa in the first-ever Division II NCAA postseason event hosted on the Lake Erie campus. That season was marked by the team achieving the first-ever number one national ranking for any team in the history of the program. In the spring of 2010 the Lake Erie track and field team boasted the first NCAA Division II All-Americans in school history when Ethan Snyder finished 7th in the nation in the 400 meter intermediate hurdles and Chris Burrows finished 8th in the nation in the 200 meter dash. Since that time, Lake Erie has had a successful run of individual accomplishments at the national level. Edward “Jamil” Dudley became the school's first national champion when he won the high jump at the 2012 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The women's volleyball program has made great strides since the reorganizing of the program in 2015. In 2013, wrestler Zak Vargo was the national runner-up at 157 pounds at the Division II Wrestling Championships. Vargo repeated his All-American performance at the 2014 Championships and was joined by freshman teammate Evan Rosborough, at 197 pounds. During the 2013-14 season, the team captured its first of three consecutive GLIAC Conference Championships and peaked at #16 in the national rankings, finishing 25th in the country at the Division II National Championships. In the 2014-15 school year, the team set a program record finish of 19th at Nationals. The 2015-16 season was marked by a program-best number six national ranking.
The Storm's Identity
The official nickname of the College's athletics teams is the Storm. The name was chosen to replace the nickname Unicorns when the College added men's intercollegiate athletics beginning in 1988. In 1999, the baseball team was founded by then student, John Frame (‘02). Starting as a club team, they soon moved to Division III after great success and receiving school support and funding. Frame, a three sport NCAA athlete, was the driving force in delivering baseball to the LEC campus.
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