Several years ago, the Golden Eagles decorated their locker room with several quotes.  One of the quotes that they chose was “Tradition Never Graduates.”  They wanted to pass on their knowledge and experience to the younger members of the team.  It is a belief of the players that once you are an Eagle you are always an Eagle.  Whatever dreams you achieved when you were here, you leave behind for others to follow.

The 2009 graduates left a tradition rich in victories, championships and mental toughness.  In their four seasons at the University of Charleston, they won 97 games and lost only 29.  They were a part of the team in 2006 that won 31 games and lost only 3, winning the East Regional Championship and advancing to the Elite Eight.  In their senior year, they won the WVIAC Title the WVIAC Tournament Title, an achievement a UC team had not accomplished since 1992!  They went on to win their first game in the NCAA Regional Tournament placing them in the top 32 teams in the country.  

As we begin the 2009-10 basketball season, we can still feel the presence of our three 2009 graduates:  Veronica Carman, Jennifer DeMeyer and Jihan Williams.  These three young women in 2009 produced 928 points (39% of the team’s points), 159 assists (32% of the team’s assists), 95 steals (35% of the team’s steals), and 479 rebounds (50% of the team’s rebounds).  

Additionally, these ferocious competitors helped their team grab several of the top spots in the overall team statistical categories in the WVIAC:  1st in FG% defense at .367%; 1st in rebounding offense at 43.2; 1st in defensive rebounds at 29.06; 1st in rebounding margin at +6.6; 2nd in scoring margin at +13.8; 2nd in scoring defense at 58.2; and 3rd in scoring offense at 71.9.

Veronica Carman was the team captain her senior year, a role she took seriously creating a leadership so strong her teammates affectionately called her “Leader.”  She played in 122 games her career, scoring 913 points, dishing out 255 assists and stealing the ball 112 times.  She was known as our defensive specialist assigned to the toughest offensive player game in and game out.  She was so disruptive in this assignment that it was rare for an opponent to score her average against us.  In both 2008 and 2009, she was voted to the WVIAC All-Conference team.

Jennifer DeMeyer suffered injuries her junior and senior season and did not fulfill the role she had envisioned for herself.  She did, however, become a positive role model for teammates to follow.  She gave 100% even when she was in pain, cheered for her teammates when she couldn’t play and always had a compassionate ear for others in off the court scenarios.  She improved in every aspect of the game from her freshmen season and was sorely missed her senior year when she was only able to compete in 16 games.

Jihan Williams played her heart out her senior year shooting 50% from the field, 38% from the three point line and 72% from the free throw line.  She ended her career with 1,017 rebounds, 1, 304 points and 96 blocks.  She will add her name to the UC Record book as the 13th all-time career scorer, 7th in career blocks and 5th in career rebounds.  Her senior year, she was awarded First Team All-WVIAC, first team All-Tournament and Honorable Mention All-American.

These three left behind a legacy both on the court and in the UC record books which will be a goal for others to aspire.