Thiel College’s Tommy-Pa-Looza 2023: A weekend packed with sports and celebration

Posted September 27, 2023 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College is gearing up for its highly anticipated homecoming celebration, “Tommy-Pa-Looza,” scheduled from September 28 to October 1.

Read the full schedule online.

The weekend will kick off with Thiel National Spirit Day on Thursday, where members of the campus community will gather for a grand group photo, setting the tone for the exciting events that follow. Alumni and friends of the College from across the globe will join in the celebration by sharing photos on social media, proudly wearing their Thiel gear and using the hashtag #TCproud.

On Friday, the sports festivities will be in full swing, featuring a women’s volleyball doubleheader and the Tomcats’ first home cross-country meet in more than 15 years. The volleyball team’s home matches are their first matches at Maenpa Court this season.

In addition to the sporting events, Friday will also be graced by the athletics Hall of Fame banquet, honoring distinguished athletes for their outstanding contributions to Thiel College’s athletic legacy. This year’s inductees are Kelly Barzak ’13, Alex Eaton ’10, Cara (Riffe) Papay ’09, and Josh Tedesco ’09.

One of the highlights of Saturday is the annual Alumni Awards Ceremony. Thiel College will honor distinguished alumni Philip Joyce ’78 and Arthur Wetzel ’73. Alongside them, James Frank ’88, Melissa (Eagon) Oakes ’03 and Anna (Pischera) Reinsel ’06 will be recognized for their outstanding service to Thiel College.

Becky Crawford ’14 will receive the Young Alumni Award, recognizing her achievements and contributions as a promising alumna.

The parade begins at 1:45 p.m. Saturday on Shenango Street and will proceed along Eagle Street and culminate near the campus along College Avenue. The parade will feature local organizations and campus groups.

The weekend celebration continues with the football game against Waynesburg at 3 p.m. Following the game, a lively post-game celebration will take place in the football stadium parking lot, featuring a performance by the musical act, Bluebird and the Message.

Building on the success of Homecoming 2022, which was the largest in school history with more than 1,000 friends and family returning to campus, the College is eager to surpass the records set and create an even more memorable and remarkable event this year.