"We have an incredible opportunity right now...when people talk about the glory days we were rolling in baseball, we were rolling in basketball, all of our sports were firing...we are in that right now, it is happening right now." Zach Berly says it on the Camel Call podcast, as Campbell Athletics is winning in February. Chris Hemeyer, Lendl Suggs, and Evan Budrovich join Zach to talk about the roll our winter sports are on, and the great start to the Spring for Softball, Baseball, and Women's Lacrosse—a fun episode of Camel Call.

Janet Wooten arrived at Campbell in 1991 and was the first of dozens of impact players John Crooks has coached over more than three decades.

 

A transfer from Auburn, Janet is the answer to nearly all the important "first" trivia questions in Campbell women's golf history:

First women's tournament individual winner

First women's conference title winner

First NCAA postseason individual berth

First women's golfer to be inducted into the Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame

 

Janet won seven collegiate individual titles and helped Coach Crooks' teams win the first 10 of what now stands as 100 tournament victories – in addition to Big South Conference championships in 1993 and 1994.

 

After earning an individual bid to the 1993 NCAA Regional, Janet and her teammates became the first Campbell women's team to reach NCAA postseason competition when the Camels played in the 1994 Regional at East Lansing, Michigan.

 

In the next installment of Tales from the Creek, Campbell and Big South Conference Hall of Fame member Janet Wooten talks with Stan Cole about getting her start in golf, her path to Campbell, the time she completed a round with just 18 putts, making lifelong friends in Buies Creek and more.

David Doyle arrived at Campbell in 1983 from Dublin, Ireland by way of Henderson, N.C.  Four years later, he not only graduated, but became the first Camel men's soccer player to earn NCAA Division I All-America honors.

 

The nation's leading scorer in 1986 with a school Division I era record 34 goals, Doyle was named Big South player of the year.

 

He went on to play professional indoor soccer and after a 19-year professional career, was inducted into the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame.

 

In 2006, "Paddy" was inducted into the Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame and was enshrined in the Big South Hall of Fame in 2015.

 

In the next installment of Tales from the Creek, All-American and Hall of Famer David Doyle talks with Stan Cole about growing up in Dublin, Ireland, his path to Campbell, life in the Creek, playing professionally indoor soccer, raising a future pro and more.

It's a spring sports preview as our podcast recorded live at Napper Tandy's in Angier features Head Baseball Coach Chris Marx, Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Dawn Easley, and Head Softball Coach Emily Carosone. The show is hosted by Evan Budrovich.

Lendl Suggs, Evan Budrovich, and Chris Hemeyer get you set for a big weekend of Campbell winter sports. Plus, we break down a fantastic Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame Class that will be inducted this weekend.

Before travel ball and summer AAU competition, Ronda Mueller Johnson grew up in Eastern North Carolina developing her athletic skills the old-fashioned way, playing with and against her seven siblings and neighborhood friends.

 

The daughter of a Marine Corps veteran and mother who had played on the best AAU women's basketball teams in the country, Ronda grew to love basketball and softball.

 

She attended the Campbell Basketball School, fell in love with Buies Creek, and has never lost touch with the University.

 

Ronda enrolled at Campbell 1978 and was named outstanding female athlete three times before graduating in 1982.  She then accepted a position as assistant basketball and head softball coach at her alma mater.

 

The first female inducted into Campbell's Athletics Hall of Fame, Ronda taught and coached for three decades in Johnston County schools before returning to Campbell as an adjunct instructor in the exercise science program.

 

In the next installment of Tales from the Creek, two-sport star Ronda Mueller Johnson talks with Stan Cole about growing up in Coastal North Carolina as one of eight siblings, her path to Campbell, softball, hoops, her family and more.

Maria Maldonado arrived at Campbell in 1992 and over the next four years, earned the distinction of being the first women's golf team member to earn all-conference honors four times.

 

A native of Argentina – she was the second international player to compete for the Campbell women – Maria helped Coach John Crooks' teams win their first 13 of what now stands as 100 tournament victories as well as Big South championships in 1993 and 1994.

 

Thirty years ago, last spring, Maria and her teammates became the first Campbell women's program to reach NCAA postseason play when the Camels competed in the NCAA East Regional at East Lansing, Michigan.

 

Following graduation, Maria spent three years as an assistant coach of the Camels and helped lead the Campbell women to an additional 16 tournament titles and three-straight ASUN championships.

 

She earned her MBA in 1998 and joined Feld Entertainment, putting her international business degree to use all over the United States and Europe.

 

In the next installment of Tales from the Creek, Campbell golf alum Maria Maldonado talks with Stan Cole about her decision to come to Buies Creek from her native Argentina, playing for and coaching alongside Hall of Fame coach John Crooks, how she met her husband and more.

It is a lot of fun as Zach, Lendl, Evan, and Chris recap the calendar year. We do a deep dive into why the CAA works for Campbell Athletics and what to expect in the future. The Power 4 then recaps the first two months of basketball and wrestling, plus a quick look at spring sports as schedules are now out on gocamels.com.

A decade ago, Ryan Thompson was a key figure in Campbell's rise to a mid-major baseball power and regular NCAA postseason participant. In the last five seasons, he has gone on to reach the major leagues and pitch in two World Series.

After a standout junior college career in the Pacific Northwest Ryan crossed the country to join the Fighting Camels and helped his team win 90 games over two seasons.

He led the nation and was Big South pitcher of the year in 2013 and led the Camels to their first NCAA postseason berth in 24 years one year later.

Drafted by the Houston Astros, Ryan steadily moved up the minor league ladder – faced a serious surgery – then joined the Tampa Bay Rays and played an important role in their 2020 American League Championship run. Three years later, he was again pitching in the World Series – this time for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Through the years, Ryan has stayed in close contact with his Campbell roots, making regular visits – most recently for a Baseball Alumni gathering around Homecoming in Buies Creek.

In the next installment of Tales from the Creek, Campbell baseball alum Ryan Thompson talks with Stan Cole about growing up in Oregon, his path to Campbell, playing college baseball, reaching the big leagues, his personal faith and more.

Jeremy Hill was a pioneer in the rebirth of Campbell football in the first decade of the 21st century.  He bought into a vision of what could be, earned two degrees from Campbell and is now thriving not only as a trust officer, but also the owner of a custom woodworking business.  He also finds time to head up the Campbell Football Alumni Association.

 

In the next installment of Tales from the Creek, Campbell football alum Jeremy talks with Stan Cole about growing up in Eastern North Carolina, his path to Campbell, meeting his wife Hannah, playing college football, moving on to his career in business field and the importance of connecting with his fellow alumni.