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The Eastern Echo Monday, June 29, 2026 | Print Archive
The Eastern Echo

Sports

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Eastern Michigan Football gears up for 2024 season opener against UMass

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As the Eastern Michigan Eagles prepare for their 2024 season opener against UMass, head coach Chris Creighton highlights a productive preseason and the integration of key newcomers, including Cole Snyder as starting quarterback and Oran Singleton wearing the revered number 2 jersey. Despite facing challenges such as adapting to UMass's new personnel and NCAA rule changes, the Eagles are focused on building team chemistry and aiming for a successful season start.



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EMU Athletics presents "Movie Night at The Factory"

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Eastern Michigan University Athletics is hosting its annual "Movie Night at The Factory" at Rynearson Stadium on August 29, featuring Inside Out 2 on the stadium's gray turf. The free event offers fans a chance to enjoy a family-friendly movie under the stars, with additional activities and the possibility of future community events.


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Eagle Tips and Tales: August 27-September 2

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Check out this week's edition of "Eagle Tips and Tales" to see how Eastern Michigan University Athletics is gearing up for a vibrant fall season with a series of exciting events and initiatives.

Rowing

Eastern Michigan University rowing prepares for new era in the MAC

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Eastern Michigan University’s rowing program is preparing to transition to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in the 2025-26 academic year, returning to regional competition after nearly a decade with the Coastal Athletic Association. This move brings opportunities and challenges as the team aims to establish itself as a top contender in the MAC while also enhancing community engagement and local recognition of the sport.


Ypsilanti Rugby Club

Ypsilanti Rugby Club is a welcoming space for athletes

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Founded in 2019, the Ypsilanti Rugby Club has rapidly become a significant force in Michigan's Division 4 rugby through its inclusive and community-focused approach. Transitioning from an EMU-affiliated team to a local club, YRC offers a welcoming environment for athletes from various backgrounds and aims to reinvigorate rugby at EMU while strengthening its regional presence.


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Eagles soar with last-minute goal to overcome UIC

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Eastern Michigan University’s soccer team staged a thrilling comeback, overcoming a two-goal deficit to defeat UIC 3-2. A last-minute goal by sophomore Sarah Van Euwen secured the victory, pushing the Eagles to a 2-0 start for the season.




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Eastern Michigan baseball adds Andrew DiTullio as assistant coach

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Eastern Michigan University has hired Andrew DiTullio as an assistant baseball coach. DiTullio brings experience from Southern New Hampshire University and the Minnesota Twins' Florida Complex League, where he excelled in player development and offensive performance, enhancing the EMU baseball program under Head Coach Robbie Britt.


Soccer

Eastern Michigan soccer kicks off new era with 1-0 victory over Oakland

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Eastern Michigan University's soccer team began the 2024 season with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Oakland University, marking the start of a new era under first-year Head Coach Taylor Clarke. Sophomore Cameryn Susey scored the decisive goal in the 85th minute, leading the Eagles to a historic 250th program win. This victory ended a 22-match winless streak at Scicluna Field and was the team's first season-opening clean sheet since 2016.


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Donald Scott finishes triple jump at Paris Olympics

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Former Eastern Michigan track and field star Donald Scott showcased his talent on the world stage once again, finishing 14th in the men's triple jump at the 2024 Olympics with a leap of 16.77m (55-00.00). This marks Scott's second Olympic appearance, continuing EMU's long tradition of representation at the Summer Games since 1960.


EMU Womens Lacrosse Vs. Marquette

Maddie Dugan named head coach of EMU Lacrosse

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Eastern Michigan University has appointed 2024 MAC Coach of the Year Maddie Dugan as the new head coach of its women's lacrosse program. Dugan, who previously led Detroit Mercy to the MAC Tournament championship game, brings a wealth of experience and success to EMU, where she will guide a promising team that reached the MAC Tournament for the first time last season.






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Eastern Michigan University's Brian Dooley signs with Tennessee Titans

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Eastern Michigan's standout offensive lineman Brian Dooley has signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent, marking the beginning of his NFL career. Dooley, who holds the record for most games played and started at EMU, was also a top pick in the 2024 USFL College Draft by the Michigan Panthers, highlighting his talent and leadership on and off the field.

Eastern Michigan University’s “Enlighten U” has been ranked the top mental health podcast in Michigan by FeedSpot, a platform that compiles blogs, podcasts, YouTube channels, newsletters and other sites in one location.

“Enlighten U” is a podcast geared toward students who are experiencing mental health challenges. Melissa Thrasher, EMU's executive director of media relations and social media, and Lolita Cummings, an EMU public relations professor, serve as the co-hosts. Each episode is released around the 15th of every month and features a student or alum and a subject-matter professional.

Lolita Cummings in an interview with The Echo said that this is not the first time the No. 1 mental health podcast in Michigan has been awarded to "Enlighten U."

"We've been the No. 1 mental health podcast in Michigan from the very beginning," Cummings said. "I think it's an indicator of the fact that what we are trying to do, we are doing well, and that is important."

At the start of each "Enlighten U" episode, Cummings and Thrasher state that the "Enlighten U" podcast is an award-winning show.

"A couple of years ago, I won the best in PR for good campaign from Public Relations Society of America for the marketing and promotions program, because it's important that we get this, the word, out to everyone and about the podcast," Cummings said.

Thrasher and Cummings are both extremely proud of their podcast, but these awards and recognitions are not why they continue with it.

It is important to Cummings that she serves all of her students' needs. She noticed that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of many of her students was declining. When the students came back after the pandemic, Cummings noticed that her students' mental health was even worse. Due to this, she began brainstorming with one of her students about how she could help.

"She [the student] said to me, 'We watched a lot of podcasts while we were off.' So I said, 'Okay, I don't know anything about podcasts, but I will meet you all where you are.' So that's where the idea came from," Cummings said. "I am able to not just serve their academic needs, but I'm also able to serve their mental health needs. And to get the feedback from them, that is really helping, and is everything to me because the students are the ones who tell us what issues are impacting the most. Those are the issues that we bring to the table at 'Enlighten U.'"

Cummings encourages students to not only watch and listen to "Enlighten U" but to also spread the word about the podcast.

"One of the things we want to do is get the word out about this podcast to as many people as possible, across the nation, across the world," she said. "The need is not limited to our campus — the need is universal; it is worldwide. My goal at this point is obviously to continue to produce quality shows that reflect the mental health challenges that students are facing, but also get it out to wider audiences so we can help more people."

For those who are interested in engaging with "Enlighten U," the podcast can be found on YouTube and Spotify.