PSU Athletics
“Living in Ghana as long as I did helped me see things from a different perspective,” says Abdallah, a double major in accounting and business administration who will graduate in December. “I wouldn’t have been ready to live in the United States had I come over earlier. In Ghana, you have to learn how to do things on your own.”
Abdallah arrived in Concord in 2018 and his difficulties in adapting to the American lifestyle early on were further complicated by COVID-19 affecting his senior year in high school and inaugural year at PSU. He points to the sense of community on campus as one of the biggest factors that made the transition mostly seamless.
“Plymouth State is a very welcoming environment. It was easy to fit in,” says Abdallah, who in addition to his coaches and teammates credits the Black Student Union as helping him with an easy transition. “Everyone shows a lot of support. I didn’t expect to fit in that easily, to be honest.”
Coach Rob Wright has seen firsthand how Abdallah has transformed from a raw, wide-eyed, student-athlete to become a quintessential ambassador for the school.
“Being a first-generation college student, someone whose upbringing is grounded in Ghana but also New Hampshire, Faisal is a model student-athlete,” Wright explains. “He is a perfect ambassador for PSU. I think most of the international students crave ‘team’—that immediate group that you belong to, that has your back, where you can feel confident being ‘you.’ Faisal is no different.”
Wright adds that Faisal has also been a positive influence on his team with his level of play, classroom standards, and leadership on and off the field.
“He has developed to the point where he is ready to say and do what he believes to be right, regardless of if that upsets others or diminishes his popularity,” Wright says. “That is something that can be very tough for young guys to do.”
In 14 games last year, Abdallah scored six goals and dished out a career-high four assists, both team highs, which followed his stellar 12-goal and one assist sophomore season. In both seasons he earned FirstTeam All-Little East Conference (LEC) honors, the first for a men’s soccer player since 2009, and received United Soccer Coaches All-Region recognition.
There is optimism that in his final season in the fall, he can help the team end a lengthy drought and return to the playoffs. Abdallah has excelled in the classroom, too, garnering United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-East Region Third Team honors; the only player from the LEC on the squad. His GPA ranked fifteenth out of the 36 student athletes named to the three teams. He also was on the LEC All-Academic Team.
His accomplishments on and off the pitch have not gone unnoticed by Wright. “I think that Plymouth State has provided the academic, social, and athletic environments to help him thrive and excel, although ultimately, he is the one that has stepped up and embraced these opportunities.” ■ Brad Spiegel
Bownes’s ski teams experienced immense success at the regional and national level, winning Eastern Regional Championships and qualifying for the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) National Championships in 20 of her 21 seasons as coach. Her biggest victories, though, did not come at the mountain.
“As a coach, and now as an administrator, my philosophy has always been the same,” says Bownes. “We are here to serve the student athletes and to give them an experience they will cherish for the rest of their lives.”
Her focus on the individual, teaching life skills like good sportsmanship and perseverance, and a genuine care for the athletes she encounters have been celebrated through the years with various awards. While serving as the technical delegate at the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) regional championships last February, Bownes was surprised with one more—the Fred Fayette EISA Service Award—presented for displaying continued support and dedication to ski racing at the collegiate level.
“It was an incredible surprise and being included in the same company as such a wonderful volunteer as Fred, who was also so passionate about the EISA skiers, makes it even more meaningful,” says Bownes.
While it might have been a surprise to her, it was anything but for her former athletes.
“Kim is proof of how one person can influence a sport and its community,” shared Kyla (Dunfee) Welch ’99, ’05G and husband Ryan Welch ’99. “Her impact goes way beyond skiing – it’s about life lessons and lasting connections.”
Stacy (Senger) Lopes ’92 experienced those lessons firsthand. After representing Plymouth State at the regional and national championships each of her first three seasons, she struggled with a lengthy illness her senior year. The two, coach and athlete, had an impactful conversation at the top of the training course late in the season when Bownes let her know she would not be competing at regionals or nationals that year.
Lopes recalls, “While deep down I knew it was absolutely the right decision it was still a bit heartbreaking to think my college ski racing career was over.”
They cried, laughed, and cried some more, she remembers, and today, more than 30 years later, pieces of that conversation still stand out in her mind.
“She told me, ‘Ski racing will not define you. It’s the lessons you learned along the way that shape you into the person you become.’ My mediocre ski racing career had come to an end, but my life was really just beginning.”
Though his skiing background was not as robust as most of his teammates, Matt Prendergast ’07 was welcomed by Bownes with open arms when he attempted to walk on.
“The relationship we had and the way she coached really helped shape me into the coach I am today,” says Prendergast, who leads the Men’s Alpine Team at Stratton Mountain School. “The way she valued the person more than the athlete really leads into the way I coach and work with my athletes. The level of caring about the individual was just absolutely incredible.”
The family-like culture Bownes manifested within the ski program now infuses Athletics overall thanks to her leadership, passion, and commitment.
“We need to remember that everyone on our team matters,” says Bownes. “We all need to work together and lift each other up to be successful. You don’t take a job in athletics if you want to work nine to five. There are long hours and many challenges to overcome, but it can be the most rewarding job, especially when student-athletes come back after they graduate and thank you for the experiences that helped them grow.” ■ Chris Kilmer ’99
Carr was a standout Panther wrestler in the late 1990s and an active alumnus, so his peers reached out. He felt he owed it to the University to at least take part in the interview process.
His opinions really hadn’t changed for most of the multiple interviews until a 20-minute sit-down with a few team members. It turned into a two-hour, get-to-know-you that not only changed his mind but also convinced the wrestlers in the room that they had their guy.
“When I walked out of that interview with Assistant Athletic Director Mark Legacy, he said to take time and think about it,” Carr remembers. “I said I don’t need time—I’d love to take the job. These guys needed me and they were ready to get to work.
“If you told me a year ago that I would be here I would have laughed at you.”
One of the wrestlers in that room was Chase Anestis ’25, an exercise and sport physiology major. The part of the interview that really stuck with him was how Carr turned it around on them. He wanted to hear about the wrestlers’ goals; what they felt the program needed; what it felt like to not enjoy the success of past Panthers squads; and what they wanted out of a coach.
“I was so happy that he took the job,” says Anestis who, when he finished in seventh place in the 174-pound weight division, became the first PSU wrestler to place at the Northeast Regional Championships since the 2018–19 season. “He asked about us, listened, and was interested in what we had to say.”
“Our motto is ‘If We Work. It Will Happen,’” says Carr, who produced 13 state champions and five New England champions in his 11 years at Salem (NH) High School from 2001–12. “That’s the real world. You have to work to get what you want.”
He has a solid core returning next year that will be supplemented by a strong recruiting class, including a couple of top grapplers from Salem High.
Prior to Carr’s arrival, Anestis considered transferring due to the program’s previous uncertainty. That’s no longer a consideration.
“I was looking at what was my next option since I have three years of eligibility left,” says Anestis, who had two seasons cut short due to injuries. “Fast forward to Coach Carr’s interview. I loved the way he spoke and presented himself. I bought into it. I told the team that it will be different this year.”
“I think where we are now from where we started is light years,” Carr says. “Officials and other coaches come up to us and say they see the difference. They see the old Plymouth State wrestling program, like back when we were brawlers.”
Adds Anestis, “Looking from the outside, record-wise, you wouldn’t think he’s done anything, but people in the conference knows what’s up. We are battling the top wrestlers, and they know we are on the rise.” ■ Brad Spiegel
Cohen’s journey began at just 18 months old when she began to ride horses. She dived into the world of ice hockey at the age of two with her mother, who had played at Providence College. “She had me on skates when she was coaching prep school hockey before I could even walk,” says Cohen.
Her exploration of sports expanded when she joined her middle school field hockey team. At times, all three sports would converge on the same day. “I would get up before school, ride my horse, go to high school for field hockey practice, then play ice hockey at night,” Cohen recalls.
Cohen’s life took a turn in her senior year of high school. She completely tore her ACL playing field hockey, and soon afterwards experienced kidney stones, which led to the discovery of potential biomarkers for leukemia. Further testing proved negative, but she was eventually diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, lupus. This risked major internal bleeding, leading her to hang up her hockey skates.
Cohen found a silver lining in athletics. “When I first got diagnosed, I was told I would never play college sports, but athletics gives me a way to keep my body healthy and fight back, which has been motivating and pushes me to keep going.” She competed on the PSU Field Hockey Team in her first and sophomore years and was third on the team in goals and points in 2022.
She found another outlet in indoor track and field, competing in distances from the 200- to the 5,000-meters and hurdles, and decided to switch from field hockey to cross country. “I had to do what was best for my body and that was keeping my aerobic training up and only training in field hockey on the side to limit the pivoting in my knees,” Cohen explains. The Cross Country Team’s welcoming environment was another factor. “It really felt like it is truly your family. They have helped me through these last seasons and I’m so grateful for that.”
Although field hockey took a step back, Cohen wanted to close out her senior year on a high note with the sport. In 2023, she joined Team USA in the Pan American Maccabi Games in Buenos Aires. Maccabi USA is an organization promoting the Jewish community through sports, and the games hosted teams from across the globe. Cohen was the featured athlete for Team USA, which she considers the best experience of her life.
“Hearing the United States announced at the opening ceremonies, you get a sense of pride that I can’t describe. It is the most surreal experience I have ever had. It was the perfect way to end my senior year.” Cohen’s team earned bronze medals and she scored six goals and four assists in five games in competition that included Argentina’s training national team.
Now equipped with her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies concentrating on pre-sports rehabilitation, Cohen plans to pursue in career in public health policy. She also plans to participate in the 2026 Pan American Maccabi Games. ■ Ryan Moyer ’24
The social work major returned to campus last fall much stronger and having lost a significant amount of weight. He was also armed with the decision to dedicate himself to the team and the sport. The results have been apparent.
“When I came to Plymouth State as a freshman I wasn’t in great shape. I got worked in practice and meets for the first couple of weeks. It wasn’t fun for me,” says Fogg, a southern Maine native. “I ended the season better than where I had started. I saw potential, so during the summer, I made changes. My coaches knew I had more and said I could get better. I knew it, too, and told them I would come back better.”
The results throughout year two were apparent, culminating in the Little East Conference Championship meet where he garnered sixth place in the 50-yard backstroke, seventh in the 100 back, and sixth in the 200 back. The prior season he came home with tenth, ninth, and seventh, respectively.
“I looked at him when he came back for his sophomore year and I said ‘Wow, Lyden, you’re a different man’,” Head Coach Anne Barbeau says. “He had a huge grin on his face. He was ready to go. It’s been a transformation for sure.”
Fogg has continued to excel as he looks forward to his senior year in the fall. He frequents the weight room as much as anyone on the team, often bringing teammates from both the men’s and women’s teams with him, as well as eating healthily.
Fogg’s transformation was in plain sight during the LEC Championships in February. Fogg became the first PSU men’s swimmer to earn multiple medals at the league championships, claiming gold (50 back), silver (100 back) and bronze (200 back) to help the Panthers to a school-best 424 points. He was also part of four relay teams that all placed in the top five.
Fogg owns six individual school records and is part of five relay marks for the program that started in the 2020–21 season.
“He has been a really good ambassador for our team,” Barbeau adds. “When we travel to other schools or host meets, other teams are aware of who he is. Not only is he the one to beat, but other teams and coaches notice what a nice guy he is. They come up to me and say congratulations.”
Fogg’s ascension to one of the top performers in the league coincides with recognition from his teammates. He was voted one of the team captains for 2024–25, his third straight season with the honor.
“The respect other athletes have for him is unbelievable,” Barbeau adds. “He knows what needs to be done and knows how to deal with teammates. I couldn’t have asked for a better athlete for our team.”
Fogg leads by example, both in and out of the pool. He has three Panther Awards and two LEC All-Academic Team member nominations, and this past season was named to the College Sports Communications Academic All-District Team. All this despite Fogg admitting to “not being a strong academic student” in high school.
Barbeau explains that as a young program, it was paramount to have someone who is dedicated to the team, himself, and the sport.
“After his first year he got enthusiastic about what he was doing,” she says. “Ever since then, he has made such a difference on our team. It has definitely been a program-changer. He has affected people’s attitudes, the way they think about the team, and how kids think of themselves.” ■ Brad Spiegel
Forge’s journey began pre-Title IX, when she was tenacious in finding opportunities to play sports growing up in New Jersey. She played soccer, basketball, and softball through middle and high school when girls were not granted access to the same facilities as boys.
“We were forced to practice basketball in the middle school gym because as high school girls we were not allowed to practice in the high school gym,” Forge says. “My soccer team was a structured intramural team and we played other schools, six teams at most, but not on soccer fields. We would put four corner cones out and four more cones to mark two goals on each side of the field while the boys were on the big soccer field with real goals. We had scrimmage vests instead of uniforms, but we didn’t care, we just loved to play.”
To this day she embraces all experiences with positivity, which made the passing of Title IX much more impactful to her as an athlete and future coach.
Forge majored in physical education at Plymouth State and joined gymnastics and Nordic skiing, and then lacrosse along with fellow gymnastics teammates. Up to then she had neither played nor watched a lacrosse game as mainly private schools sponsored the sport in high school. This did not stop her. “I fell in love with lacrosse, so I played that for all four years,” she says. “I was so excited to be on a team with coaches and teammates and learn the sport.”
After graduation Forge moved on to her first teaching position and began coaching basketball and softball at Ashland Public Schools from 1977–1984. “I quickly realized that coaching was my favorite part of the day,” she says. “That was the reason why I got up in the morning.”
Forge is the winningest volleyball coach in New Hampshire high school history. Her career began at Gilford High School, where over 33 years she transformed girls from the basketball and softball teams into a dynasty, amassing a 542-83 record including 15 state championships and nine consecutive state titles. She also coached softball for 43 years, garnering three state championships. She amassed over 1,000 high school varsity wins in her coaching career.
The circle was completed in 2018 when Forge began coaching Plymouth State volleyball. She’s tallied a 112-42 overall record (33-11 in the Little East Conference), including the first undefeated conference record of 8-0 in 2021.
Success, according to Forge, comes from “hard work, discipline, and structure,” rather than win-loss records, and she takes her accomplishments in stride, saying, “I feel like I have never worked a day in my life because I love what I do.” She generously credits her PSU achievements to her coaching staff of Bill Beaudet, Kathryn Labrie ’14G, and Tucker McIlwrath ’20, along with Athletic Trainer Mark Legacy and Director of Strength and Conditioning John “JT” Thomas. She also commends her team for creating a positive culture, though her athletes view Forge as its prime sponsor.
Nora Ryan ‘24 and Ryley McNeeley ‘24 were major offensive contributors this past season. Ryan says, “Coach Forge is always there for us, emphasizing team chemistry. I think that is the main reason why we have done so well.” McNeeley maintains that Forge spurred their momentum during the pandemic.
“She made COVID fun,” says McNeeley. “We had an outdoor tournament with a net on the grass. She turned something that was horrible into something positive and helped us through it.”
Imalay Rodriguez Martinez ’25, a defensive specialist from Puerto Rico, appreciates Forge’s style. “She is strict in a positive way, and it motivates me and the other girls to strive to do better, and sometimes during team scrimmages she finds different ways to incorporate Spanish into our practices.”
“A lot of people see Joan’s team as a family,” says Director of Athletics Kim Bownes ’07G. “She is able to bring people together, to be on the same page and buy into a program. She’s done a phenomenal job.”
A cornerstone of both Plymouth State Athletics and the wider community, Forge creates a positive atmosphere that leads to success. Though she will celebrate her fiftieth year as a New Hampshire coach in 2025, her college coaching career is just beginning and there is every reason to look forward to future accomplishments. ■ Ryan Moyer ’24
It got to a point where she told her parents that she was ready to quit. So, when they woke her up on the first day of a new season, she was confused because she had told them she was done with the sport. Thankfully—for her and the Plymouth State Women’s Ice Hockey program—they secretly signed her up for the girls’ Initiation Program, also called Fundamentals.
“When I showed up to the rink, I was surrounded by other girls my age and I instantly fell in love and I never looked back,” says McNeil. “It became a whole new passion of mine and it was all I cared about growing up.”
Prior to coming to PSU, McNeil attended and played for the Ontario Hockey Academy (OHA), a hockey prep school in Cornwall, Ontario, where she lived in a dorm for high school and followed a rigorous hockey and academic schedule. She says it prepared her well for making the transition to the college game while helping her take her passion for hockey to the next level.
While the stakes are much different, McNeil is again faced with a challenge: balancing the sport she has played for almost 20 years and completing PSU’s 3+2 Athletic Training program, which is especially grueling for a student athlete.
The program enables students to obtain their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years. Truncating a program that often takes six or seven years elsewhere into five is difficult enough, but with internships, clinical work, three-hour classes, and studying, combined with practice, travel, games, and time in the weight room, managing it all is quite an accomplishment.
Having completed all requirements for her BS in allied health sciences at the completion of year four, summa cum laude, McNeil is slated to earn her MS in athletic training while back on the ice next season.
“It definitely will be challenging given my master’s program and the commitment it entails,” says McNeil, a defenseman. “I met with my program directors to make it work. I couldn’t imagine coming back to campus for another year and not being with the team.”
Head Coach Ben Chipman, ’22, ’23 MBA knows about the rigors of being a student-athlete, having also obtained two degrees while playing hockey, and attributes McNeil’s success in both school and sport to her organization.
“Lauren has some of the best time management skills I’ve seen from a student,” Chipman says. “Her ability to execute in the classroom and on the ice is tremendous. You rarely see her get tired or complain. She doesn’t throw any barriers up or create self-inflicted wounds to make it difficult for herself. She wakes up every day with a smile on her face and attacks the day. It’s pretty impressive.”
Barring injury, McNeil should enter rarified air with her hundredth game played for PSU during the 2024–25 season. “It is definitely crazy to think about,” McNeil says. “It means a lot to me that I will be contributing to the team, and that I gave 100 games to this program.”
McNeil is mostly a stay-at-home defenseman, often facing the opponent’s top lines. She led the team with 65 blocked shots this past season (152 for her career) while registering a career best in goals (three) and points (five). Chipman expects to see a little more scoring in her final season when he puts her in more offensive opportunities.
McNeil remembers the little girl she once was, the one who considered quitting hockey, as she pushes through with determination. “She would have been so proud to know I kept playing at the collegiate level. It also continues to teach me not to quit or give up when things get challenging because it will all be worth it in the end.” ■ Brad Spiegel
Wilcox has played basketball all her life. “I feel like ever since I could walk, I was dribbling and playing,” she says. The Londonderry, NH, native played for multiple travel teams including a few AAU girls’ teams and was on four consecutive high school championship teams.
Her college career began at the Division I level at the University of New Hampshire, but she never made it to the court after developing dermatomyositis, a disease that caused irritation and rashes around the eyes and her muscles to lock up. Her athletics experience took a drastic turn.
“You have to put a name out for yourself in such a big school or else doors close quickly,” Wilcox says. “It made it hard to connect with peers. I’m a social butterfly at the end of the day, so that was hard.” She ended up leaving before her first official game and missed playing Iowa and phenom Caitlin Clark, which was especially heartbreaking.
Her health struggles got worse with multiple hospitalizations, and basketball took a hiatus for eight months. However, by the next summer, Wilcox was exercising again to get herself back to the sport she loves.
“I always want to play,” Wilcox says. “I always have that urge to play; if I see a ball I want to go get it.” Eventually exercise helped restore her health and she transferred to Rivier University, where she knew other students.
Wilcox posted impressive stats at Rivier and felt supported by its athletic director but had a difficult time seeing herself staying due to friction with teammates. She kept moving forward. Her journey brought her to the transfer portal once more, leading to a phone call from PSU Head Coach Curtis Arsenault ’17.
“I had a great conversation with her,” Arsenault recalls. “I wanted her on the team. I was up front about the fact that we were rebuilding, and she could have a huge role in it, and she said she was on board.”
Wilcox joined the team for the 2023–2024 season and blossomed on all sides of the court, with a special eye for defense. She led the team in points (380), averaged 6.5 rebounds a game, and tallied 82 steals—tops in the Little East Conference. An impactful player, she filled in wherever needed.
“I would hate to be an offensive player against her,” says Assistant Coach Sofia Lozon. “She gives this team confidence and was able to lift us to the next step. She is committed to this team and has a purpose.”
Wilcox plans to live on campus next year to have a closer relationship with her teammates for the upcoming season, having found a school, community, and team where she feels fully valued.
“I think that this is the place to be,” says Wilcox. “It’s been a life experience I will never forget—from our coaches that work so well together and support me and my teammates to the relationships, friends, and groups that I’ve been a part of already. I’m ready to be a part of building a foundation for the future.” ■ Ryan Moyer ’24
Two years later, in 2001, he tore his left ACL for the second time during a game with the Plymouth State football team. It may have ended the physical education major’s career as a player, but it spurred his next chapter as a coach, and he has been associated with the football program ever since.
“I often tell people that injuries led me to what I wanted to be,” says Zeman, who was promoted to co-head coach with Paul Castonia in 2020. “After each injury, I got thrown into it a little more. I got the football coaching bug and that was how I got through not playing.”
Zeman, a defensive back in his two Panther seasons, was a student coach under Chris Rorke before starting a 20+ year relationship with Castonia. “During my first day on campus, Devin was in my office,” recalls Castonia. “He had a mission to be a coach. He was so gung-ho about starting his coaching career. With his enthusiasm, I figured why not have someone like that working with us? He made a point to see me. I haven’t been able to get rid of him since.”
Zeman’s pride was instilled early on while watching PSU football on television, and both he and Castonia appreciate the program’s prominence in Panther sports. “We are aware that many people have contributed to building the program over the past 53 years and we do our best every year to try and continue that success both on the field and in the classroom,” says Castonia.
Accepting Zeman was a good decision for both men. The pair has led PSU to nine winning seasons, including five postseason appearances. Most recently the Panthers captured the New England Bowl in 2022 and have taken trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and 2017—when they claimed the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) title.
Zeman notes that they have the fifth-best all-time winning percentage for New England Division III teams—during PSU’s 53 years of football—that have played at least 20 years and are in the top 30 nationally over that same period.
PSU Football has been highly successful in the classroom as well. Over the past four years, the program has averaged 49 players annually who have earned a spot on the academic all-conference team.
Zeman has worn numerous hats for a small coaching staff that typically boasts around five individuals. He and his players excel on defense. The Panthers led the MASCAC in scoring defense (total points per game allowed) in 2017,2018, 2021, and 2022, missing a fifth year by 0.1 points.
“We have been here together so long that we have a system that has worked out pretty well for us,” says Zeman, who was honored in 2017 with the Division II/III Assistant Coach of the Year award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston. “I love trying to figure out what the other team is trying to do. It is like a chess match.”
What drives Zeman is not so much the team record, but seeing his players grow as athletes, students, and men. What gets him excited are the players who may not have had much success in their freshmen and sophomore years but enjoy success later during their junior and senior seasons, because they continually worked to get better and persevered through any tribulations.
“To take those guys who struggle at the beginning, then to be a very good football team, that is something I can say I am proud of,” Zeman says. “Awards will come with it when they do that. That’s not important to me. It means a lot when guys stick with football, complete four years, and finish school and do well.” ■ Brad Spiegel
■ Headshot photo credits DCSportsPhotos.