Echo Spring 2023 - 45

Beginning with the fall 2023 athletics season, the Colonial States Athletic
Conference (CSAC) and United East Conference will merge to one
conference with 16 member institutions.
According to the United East in December 2022, when the intent to merge
was announced, the move will " address the evolving landscape of higher
education by stabilizing conference membership and solidifying the sport
sponsorship currently offered by the existing conferences. This merger will
also provide member institutions an opportunity to decrease the number
of associate memberships necessary to support the current sport offerings
on each respective campus. "
Gallaudet University President Roberta Cordano and Clarks Summit
University President James Lytle issued a joint statement regarding
the merger: " In a time in which many of our institutions are navigating
challenges and changing needs, we believe this partnership will create
a stronger conference that will provide increased stability now and in
the future for our student-athletes and their athletic experience. The
CSAC and United East look forward to working together to bring this
vision to a reality.... "
Besides Lancaster Bible College, the United East Conference comprised
eight additional NCAA Division III member institutions: Gallaudet, Penn
College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg,
St. Mary's College of Maryland, SUNY Morrisville and Wells College. SUNY
Morrisville and Wells will join another conference this fall.
CSAC had 10 member schools: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar
Crest College, Clarks Summit, Keystone College, Notre Dame of Maryland
University, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, the University of
Valley Forge and Wilson College.
For at least the 2023-24 athletic season, the merged conference will
remain under the United East name.
LBC | Capital and the LBC Athletic Department welcomed Rob
Rowe as the new Men's & Women's Golf Head Coach this spring.
Rowe is the Director of Golf Instruction at Bent Creek Country
Club in Lancaster and will continue to serve in that role along with
his coaching duties with the Chargers. He is a 2016 graduate of
Millersville University and excelled on the links during his time with
the Marauders, collecting 21 top 10 finishes.
Over the past year, Rowe was designing a golf camp centered on
both the game of golf and teaching the Bible. Just as he felt called
to develop the camp further, he learned about the coaching opening
at LBC, and the decision became clear.
" Purpose makes decisions easier, and my purpose of bringing Jesus
to the golf course is a perfect match for this position, " Rowe shared.
In addition to his passion for bringing the Lord to the links, Rowe is
excited to continue growing the golf program at LBC.
" Our goal is to be successful on and off the course, " he said. " On the
course, that means competing and contending for a conference
championship, but that also extends off the course. To be successful,
we need to structure a plan to achieve the goals we set. It's
important to have a process that contains things like balance,
managing a schedule and spending time with the Lord. "
Director of Athletics Rod Baughman expressed his excitement about
the new coach, as he believes Rowe is a fit with the LBC mission.
" Rob will bring a high level of
expertise and is a tremendous mission
fit for our program, " Baughman said.
" He is passionate about the game
and about seeing young people grow
in their faith. His familiarity with our
program at our home course of Bent
Creek Country Club made this an
ideal partnership. "
confident with strategy on the floor, and
the past two years have really helped me
learn the recruiting process as well as the
pace of the collegiate game. I've learned
from two great head coaches and can't
wait to get started at Lancaster Bible. "
The idea of coming back to his alma
mater isn't lost on Carpenter, and he and
his family are excited to return to the
area.
" If you would've asked me in 2009 if I
would be back to coach here, I'm not
sure I would have said yes, " Carpenter
said. " However, I love the full-circle nature of this, and there are
still some faces I will recognize, including my former coach Pete
Beers (who serves as Vice President of Traditional Undergraduate
Education), as well as Men's Basketball Head Coach Jon Mack, who I
played against when he coached at Valley Forge. It's an exciting time
in the program and the Athletic Department, and my family and I
can't wait to be a part of it.
Ryan Carpenter
" I've greatly enjoyed the conversations I've had with the current
players, " he added. " They are driven to be better on and off the floor,
and I am excited to work with driving players. "
As LBC's golf program enters its fifth
year, Rowe said he wants to continue
building it into a program that is
sought out among the area's best
golfers.
" I believe the program can not only
be competitive but somewhere players want to be and know they
can improve, " Rowe said. " I've been blessed to be around some very
good NCAA Division I programs over the past few years and have an
understanding of what a quality program can be, and I believe we
can have something similar at Lancaster Bible. "
One of the ways Rowe believes the Chargers will become more
successful is by playing more golf, specifically during the months
golfers typically can't hit the links in Pennsylvania. To accomplish
this, the Chargers began using a TrackMan Simulator indoors on
campus this spring.
In addition to Rowe's guidance, the Chargers' golf staff will also
include Gary Patton, who will serve as a volunteer assistant coach.
Rowe, who is the author of " As It Is in Heaven " and host of " The
Jesus Golf Guy " podcast, said the Chargers have big goals, but
embracing the process to achieve those goals provides a chance
to grow as Christians.
" We want to plan the process, execute the plan and accomplish
the goal, and in doing so, we will teach balance, learn to prioritize
and manage our time, " Rowe said. " I want student-athletes in our
program to walk away each season knowing the Lord more and
developing their understanding of knowing Him. "
Check out the golf team's progress this season at lbcchargers.com
or on social media @lbcathletics.
Rob Rowe
ECHO 45
http://www.lbcchargers.com
Echo Spring 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Echo Spring 2023
