Gardner-Webb Athletics Hosts Teams from UNC-Asheville and Montreat Displaced by Helene

Blue and White Bulldogs, Cavaliers Welcomed by Campus Community

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Over the next few weeks, the Gardner-Webb University community might notice a few blue and white Bulldogs showing up around campus or even some blue, white and gold Cavaliers. These are the school colors and mascots for the University of North Carolina at Asheville and Montreat College. Both colleges have teams staying at Gardner-Webb.

When Hurricane Helene forced UNC-Asheville to close, Big South Conference sister schools offered to help house the student-athletes. In a message on Instagram, UNC-Asheville Athletic Director Janet R. Cone wrote, “First and foremost, we would like to thank everyone who has reached out to check on our student-athletes, coaches and staff. As the City of Asheville begins to recover from this devastating natural disaster, we have relocated all of our student-athletes to locations outside of our immediate area. Together we will push through this and remain #BulldogStrong.”

Gardner-Webb is hosting the UNC-Asheville women’s swim team, and UNC-Charlotte, Wofford, High Point, and UNC-Greensboro are hosting other Asheville teams. The men’s and women’s basketball teams are hosted by the Charlotte Hornets.

Gardner-Webb has hosted other schools’ teams and students before, most notably providing housing in 2005 for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

The 23 members of the swim team and their coach, Elizabeth Lykins, arrived on campus on Oct. 10. They were welcomed by Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew Goodrich, Dean of Students Lesley Villarose, Director of Housing and Residence Education Shelbilyn Boelsche and Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Student Engagement Brian Arnold. Goodrich said they did their best to make the group feel at ease. After he spoke, he stepped out of the room and spotted Bo with his handler in Tucker Student Center.

Because UNC-Asheville’s mascot is also a bulldog, Goodrich thought it would be great if Bo came to see the guests. “I came back into the room and said, ‘Ladies, I thought you had met everyone but there is one very, very special person here who wanted to meet you. He is grateful that you’re here and is going to adopt you. From one bulldog to another, let me introduce you to Bo,’” Goodrich related. “Bo came in and they all loved it. There was something special in that room in that moment. Bo made them feel welcome in a way that only he could do.”

Gardner-Webb Head Swim Coach Michael Blum is glad to share Bost Pool with UNC-Asheville. “We are happy to be here with them,” he said. “They are an awesome group with a fantastic coach, and I really appreciate all the hard work that Dean V and housing did for our friends in need.”

The Montreat Cavaliers women’s wrestling team is also staying on the Gardner-Webb campus. Before they arrived in Boiling Springs, the wrestlers had been housed in different places across the country. GWU Head Wrestling Coach Daniel Elliott invited them to stay together and practice at GWU.

“I got to know Montreat’s coach this summer when we were working a camp together,” Elliott explained. “When I saw the damage to their campus and facilities after Hurricane Helene, I reached out to him and offered our facility if they needed place to work out. After a few days, we got back together and he asked if we’d have the ability to house some of his wrestlers as well as letting them train here. After talking with Dean Villarose, she and Shelbilyn worked to find beds for the girls (12).”

Elliott noted that the GWU wrestlers also wanted to help the Montreat team with some of its expenses. “With the impact that this hurricane has had for those of the Appalachians, I think it’s the least we could do,” he asserted.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.