Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (12/4/2025) – "Our goal is to build a foundation," stated Gwynedd Mercy University Head Men's and Women's Track and Field Coach Branden Soubik. "I'm very excited for my first season as head coach and the opportunity help this program develop. We have a core of talented student-athletes and a lot of new faces who can compete in a lot of difference events. We want to see progress from last year's success and begin to realize all the hard work that has been invested since last spring."
 
Gwynedd Mercy University will have a lot to make up for in the men's sprint events as Victor Cruz '25 will completing his National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility with Delaware Valley University. The two-time Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Men's Track Athlete of the Year (2024, 2025), headlined the Red and Gold's performance at the 2025 AEC Men's Track and Field Championships with his first-place finishes in the 100-Meter (1st, 11.01, 10 points), 200-Meter (1st, 22.2, 10), and 400-Meter (1st, 49.19, 10), as well as his contribution to the 4x100-Meter Relay (3rd, 43.77, 6) and 4x400-Meter Relay (2nd, 3:33.56, 8).
 
In the season to come, Tyson Scheitrum (Harrisburg, Pa.) will take the lead for the Red and Gold. The sophomore thrower rewrote the Gwynedd Mercy University record book in his debut season and was named the 2025 AEC Men's Field Athlete of the Year for his impressive All-AEC First Team performances in the Hammer (1st, 43.34, 10 points) and Discus (1st, 38.06, 10 points). He totaled 20 of the Griffins' 102 points (3rd of 6) and his championship throw in the Hammer was a University, Championship, and personal record.
 
Scheitrum's success in the field will be complemented by the track experience of sophomore Jamar Gauda (Delran, N.J.), junior Mel Velasquez (Philadelphia, Pa.), and senior Sebastian DeSimone (West Orange, N.J.). DeSimone (11^th, 31:21.7) and freshman Conner Brennan (Hatboro, Pa.) (8^th, 29:35.5) are coming off strong cross country seasons as both finished the championship eight-kilometer with All-AEC Second Team times. The Gwynedd Mercy University men's track and field team also welcomes junior Christian Lynn (Philadelphia, Pa.) to the roster for the 2025-2026 seasons.

Similar to the men, Gwynedd Mercy University has a lot to make up for in the women's hurdles and jumps as Natalie O'Neill '24 moves from competition to coaching. O'Neill had another impressive performance at the AEC Women's Track and Field Championships (May 3 & 4) as she pointed in the 100-Meter Hurdles (2nd, 18.10, 8 points), 400-Meter Hurdles (2nd, 1:14.11, 8 points), High Jump (2nd, 1.40, 8 points), Long Jump (4th, 4.43, 4 points), and Triple Jump (3rd, 10.32, 6 points) in 2025. She earned All-AEC Second Team honors in the first three and established personal records in the High Jump and Triple Jump, while totaling 34 of the Griffins' 64.5 points (5th of 6) at the league meet.
 
Like Scheitrum, sophomore Fanta Dukuly (Philadelphia, Pa.) takes center stage for the Red and Gold. She made a splash in her AEC Women's Track and Field Championships debut with All-AEC First Team finish in the 100-Meter (1st, 12.82, 10 points) and her All-AEC Second Team finish in the 200-Meter (2nd, 26.68, 8 points) garnering her the 2025 AEC Women's Track and Field Rookie of the Year honor. Dukuly also joined her teammates for sixth place in the 4x100-Meter (6th, 58.18, 1 point) and a fourth place in the 4x400-Meter (4th, 4:34.37, 4 points).
 
A much larger Gwynedd Mercy University women's track and field roster includes the return of sophomores Ava Ezzie (Drexel Hill, Pa.) and Truly Heft (Quakertown, Pa.), as well as a large crop from freshmen in Emmee Belt (Southampton, Pa.), Izzy Bofinger (Mount Holly, N.J.), Molly Botthof (Philadelphia, Pa.), Abigail Flannery (Cinnaminson, N.J.), Brianna Freitag (Philadelphia, Pa.), Mallory Klug (Collegeville, Pa.), Emma Luciani (Scranton, Pa.), Caitlyn Majiros (Nanticoke, Pa.), Mary Rivas-Leiva (Horsham, Pa.), Hannah Satalin (Schwenksville, Pa.), and Olivia Taylor (Philadelphia, Pa.). Dukuly and Ezzie will be joined on the track by Belt, Bofinger, Bothoff, Flannery, Freitag, Rivas-Leiva, Satalin, and Taylor, while Heft will be joined in the throwing circle by Klug, Luciani, and Majiros.
 
"Versatility might be our greatest strength," mentioned Coach Soubik. "But we are a young team, so we know we need to be committed, accountable, and adaptable to build the fun and competitive culture we want in this program."   
 
The 2025-2026 Gwynedd Mercy University men's and women's track and field seasons begin this Saturday, December 6, with the Alvernia University Rust Buster.