Catamount Club Stories

The Catamount Club Blog is designed as a place to share stories about our incredible student-athletes, alumni and donors who are making a difference in their lives. We also update members on the details of our upcoming events through our blog.

Cat Chats: Onno and Jake

Current Catamount Student-Athlete Onno Steger chats with former Student-Athlete Jake Robinson about how former WCU student-athletes who are now making an impact in the professional world and giving back to their alma mater.

Devarius Cortner

Devarius Cortner remembers the phone call he received offering him a full scholarship to attend WCU and play football. An official visit excited him and was a chance for him to get to learn more about Catamount Country. WCU presented an opportunity for something Devarius didn’t have back home—brotherhood.

Onno Steger

As the son of two athletes, a lifetime career in athletics could have seemed defined for Onno Steger. But, his parents never forced him to become an athlete. He found his own way into sports.

Tamilia Wright

Former Western Carolina University men’s and women’s track and field coach Cale McDaniel didn’t have to recruit Tamilia Wright to Cullowhee. It was her that recruited him. While taking a campus tour, the Burlington native called McDaniel to let him know she was in town.

Journey of Former WCU Standout Keion Crossen Continues with Trip to 2019 Super Bowl

As he came down from the stage and onto the floor Monday (Jan. 28) at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena for the New England Patriots’ portion of the 2019 Super Bowl’s Opening Night, former Western Carolina University defensive back Keion Crossen was all smiles. And why wouldn’t he be? This time last year, few people outside of his hometown of Garysburg and Cullowhee knew who Crossen was. The former Catamount wasn’t even invited to the NFL combine prior to last April’s NFL draft.

Jordan Strickland: Ruling the Court

On the tennis court, Jordan Strickland is a focused, intense, yet level-headed player for Western Carolina University. Perhaps it’s because of the way Strickland approaches her life. At three days old, she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis – a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time.

Soccer player finders her place on and off the field

During her four years on the soccer field at Western Carolina University, Endye Frazier showed the kind of growth coaches love to see. Off the field, her work with the Special Olympics displayed the type of compassion everyone should seek to have.

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