LEGACY INITIATIVE
The Legacy Initiative is a program of the Cy Fritz Foundation that was conceived in early 2016. This multi-phase plan creates a permanent, documented history of the cross country and track & field programs and preserves that legacy for generations to come. The annual reunions ensure that former athletes, coaches and supporters of the programs stay connected to continue the bond of the XC and T&F “family.” The four phases of the plan are shown below.
Phase One: Pictorial History
The first mention in the yearbook of a track team at Millersville University. The year is 1912.
Phase One had 2 stages. Stage One was to download every Millersville University yearbook page that pertains to cross country or track & field. This was completed in the Summer of 2016. You can find pictures and pages of yearbooks here from 1912 (the first year track was mentioned) through 2012, the final year a yearbook was produced for MU.
Stage Two was to accumulate photos and documents from alumni that pertain to cross country or track & field. Documents can include meet results, event programs, letters, etc. Many alumni have already shared their photos and documents. However, this is an on-going project. We are ALWAYS looking for memories to share. If you have photos or documents, please contact us at CyFritzFoundation@gmail.com. You can find alumni photos and all other photos here.
Phase two: Permanent Honor
Cy Fritz’s bronze plaque on permanent display at Biemesderfer Stadium
While MU has had multiple coaches in cross country and track & field over the decades, there is one that has a record second to none. The legendary Cy Fritz has stellar winning percentages and coached the 1981 cross country team to MU's first NCAA National Championship. You can read details about his career here. Since his accomplishments as a coach and educator may never be matched, we felt it was important to create a permanent honor so that future generations would know about this legendary individual. On Homecoming Day, October 22, 2016, a bronze plaque was unveiled at Biemesderfer Stadium that immortalized Coach Fritz. He was also honored during halftime of the Homecoming football game. View pictures and video of that historic day here.
Phase three: Reunions
Former MU cross country and track & field athletes are a family. Alumni stay engaged with the current programs for decades after they graduate. There is a common bond among all athletes from our programs, no matter their age. While many alumni get together during Homecoming, others volunteer at the Millersville Metrics meet each year, a tradition unto itself. However, there was never an official reunion of the programs. That all changed on April 1, 2017. That's when the Cy Fritz Foundation organized the inaugural annual reunion. Since then, annual reunions sponsored by the Cy Fritz Foundation have been held for athletes, coaches, and supporters of Millersville University’s cross country and track & field programs.
Athletes from the inaugural women's reunion, held April 1, 2017
Athletes and coaches from the first combined reunion, held October 13, 2018
President and Mrs. Wubah visit our 2018 reunion!
Athletes and coaches from the inaugural men's reunion, held October 14, 2017
President Wubah visits our 2021 Reunion, which also served as the 40th aniversary celebration of the 1981 cross country team’s NCAA National Championship. Surrounding the NCAA trophy are President Wubah and member’s of the 1981 team.
(Left to right): Bob Brandon, Barry Lopatic, Greg Cauller, President Wubah, Bob Vasile, Russ Millett, Coach Cy Fritz
phase four: video history
(Left to right) Tom Ecker and Bob Vasile interviewing Cy Fritz with videographer Colin Powell looking on.
It's important to document the history and legacy of our programs, and Phase Four is doing just that. Interviews with former coaches Art Hulme, Cy Fritz, and Larry Warshawsky were video recorded and the memories of these iconic coaches were captured forever. Current and future generations will now have a video history of how the programs got started, what the culture was like during those times, and how the programs reached the pinnacle of their sport.
On May 18, 2017, a video legacy was created by interviewing past coaches. It was a magical day as Tom Ecker and Bob Vasile interviewed Art Hulme and Cy Fritz.
Art Hulme started the cross country program at MU and was MU's first track & field coach of the modern era. He was the head track & field coach from 1956-1969. He was the head cross country coach from 1957-1961, and again from 1965-1968. Sadly, Art passed away at the age of 97 on July 24, 2021.
Also interviewed on May 18, 2017 was Art's successor and the most successful coach of any sport in MU history, Cy Fritz. Eugene “Cy” Fritz was Millersville University men's cross country head coach from 1969 to 1985. His record was 126-16-1 (.885). He guided the Marauders to IC4A titles in 1978 and 1981, and the PSAC championship in 1979. The 1981 season culminated in Millersville University's first NCAA National Championship (Division 2). Cy was head track and field coach from 1970-1974. He compiled a dual meet record of 41-3 (.932). He guided the 1970 team to a PSAC Championship.
On March 25, 2018, Larry Warshawsky was interviewed. Larry was head track & field coach at Millersville University from 1975-1985. During his career at Millersville, Larry also coached cross country, football, and baseball as well as being an educator. In his interview, Larry described how he got his start and what made his programs so successful. He compiled a record of 78-17-1, an 81% win percentage. He coached 10 All-Americans and a national champion. Unfortunately, Larry passed away on April 21, 2018, less than a month after this interview was conducted.