QU Athletics Podcast Quincy Hawks

 QUINCY, Ill. – Division II football in the Great Lakes Valley Conference will not happen in 2020, but that doesn't mean the QU football team has stopped preparing. 

Head coach Gary Bass, defensive coordinator Sean Kelly, and quarterbacks coach Kaleb Borghardt joined the fourth episode of the QU Athletics Podcast to discuss the current happenings in the football program. 

Coming off the heels of a record-setting offensive season in 2019, Gary Bass enters his fourth year at the helm for the Hawks. Coach Bass has his team trending upwards with one more win than in the previous year in the past three seasons. 

Last year, the Hawks fast-paced, high-powered offense was led by senior quarterback Andrew Rund, who broke a single-season record for passing yards during the Hawks 5-6 campaign. 

The Hawks will return Jalen Griffin, who was the eighth-highest rusher in the conference last year with 692 yards. Trey Mosley is the projected starting quarterback with two years of eligibility remaining while also having 15 games played under center.

Quincy's defense came up big in the turnover category last year by leading the GLVC with 16 interceptions in 11 games. The Hawks did graduate three defensive backs, but defensive coordinator, Sean Kelly, discussed his defensive scheme that is continuing to flourish. 

The top storyline of any sports team in the nation right now is COVID-19. It is a disservice not to mention the wide-scope impact that the pandemic has had on coaches and athletes in regards to eligibility, development, and health concerns. 

The coaches talked about how they have to actively navigate these times and keep their players sharp for when the season does come. 

This show is now available on YouTube in video format along with Spotify and SoundCloud. 

Quincy University Athletic Communications department appreciates your support in our pursuit of providing coverage of all things Hawk athletics. 

Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to let us know how you're enjoying the show, and stay tuned for next week, when Will Conerly talks with women's soccer head coach, Samuel Thomas.

 The Quincy University tennis program was featured in the third QU Athletics podcast today (Sept. 18). 

First-year head coach Ethan Arns, and his team captains, Dane Mechali (Port Elizabeth, South Africa) and Laila Leist-Alston (Corona, CA) joined Will Conerly on the show.

Both programs are competing in a scrimmage tomorrow (Sept. 19) at Reservoir Park, and the women's team travels to Truman State on Sunday for their first outside competition of the year. 

The athletes discussed their approach to a unique fall and how they are excited for the opportunity to compete. 

Dane Mechali is currently in graduate school at QU. He discussed how the tennis program played into his decision to stay another year after extra eligibility was granted because of COVID-19 cancelations last spring. 

Laila Leist-Alston shed light on overcoming injuries during her career and how she has taken extra precautionary steps to remain healthy while becoming the Hawks' number one on the women's side.

Both players mentioned how they have used a competitive environment at practice to better prepare for the upcoming season. Leist-Alston and Mechali discussed how they utilized this time to not only earn their starting spots, but also to get back into game shape. 

QU graduate and former tennis player, Ethan Arns, takes on his first year at the helm of the program and will be assisted by first-year graduate student, Laura Gutierrez. 

The men's team features two graduate students Luca Cantale (Cantania, Italy) and Dane Mechali. The men's team also features three seniors: Kevin Nathan (Paris, France), Erik Weiler (Edwardsville, IL), and Jeffrey Zelleman (Quincy, IL).

The women's team features two seniors: Makaela Hampton (Benton, IL) and Noni Updyke (Worden, IL). 

Subscribe to the show for free and stay up to date with all the Hawk happenings in QU Athletics!