Attending Mansfield University was the single most important decision that I ever made. During this time of Thanksgiving, I want to reflect on how I got here and how my MU experience has shaped me into the person that I am today.
As a Pennsylvania resident, in-state tuition was attractive. The three-hour drive from home was ideal. The academic programs and size of the school were a great fit. In addition, the outdoor-related opportunities were as plentiful as anywhere in the Commonwealth. All those assets were important to me as a prospective student, but as I grow older, I realize the key factor in my decision to enroll at MU proved the same reason why I began to work here in 2001…THE PEOPLE!
My friend Dr. Richard Soderberg, chairperson of the Fisheries program in the early 1990s, was instrumental in my decision to enroll. Honest, forthcoming, and eager, Dr. Soderberg happily met with prospective students during their campus visits. Although I didn’t graduate from the Fisheries program (I thought we would actually get to do more FISHING!), I’m still grateful to him for closing the deal—making the best sale pitch that convinced me to attend Mansfield University.
I also spoke with MU President Rod Kelchner multiple times while at MU. Like Dr. Soderberg, Kelchner was honest and genuine in his approach. I soaked up every word of his tales about the great opportunities that awaited me here. When I encountered men’s basketball coach Tom Ackerman, he and I discussed the possibility of playing Division II basketball. Although my playing career didn’t work out as initially planned, the opportunity to learn about coaching and gain valuable experience as a student assistant was crucial to my development as a person and a future coach. I left Mansfield University knowing the staff cared deeply for me and the success of all their students.
In 2001, I returned to campus as an Assistant Director of Admissions. It felt like a wonderful homecoming of sorts. I immersed myself in campus activities and community life. By 2009, my life took an exciting turn when I became the advisor for the Bass Fishing Team. I was an avid bass fisherman and I had competed in many local and regional tournaments, so this role was a natural fit. A lot of hard work by the members stabilized the group, increased membership, and sharpened our competitive edge. My goal was to someday take the team to participate in the Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) Outdoors Collegiate National Championship.
Fast forward to 2018. We have qualified for and competed in three FLW Outdoors National Championship events! In 2017, the duo of Ryan Fluharty ‘17 and Tyler Grabowski ‘17 traveled to Wheeler Lake in Alabama and finished 11
th
out of more than 150 teams throughout the country. Mansfield University is consistently placing higher than schools like Ohio State, NC State, Penn State, West Virginia, and many other Division I universities! Given our location and the academic programs that attract students who enjoy the outdoors, it only seems right that MU has a competitive bass fishing team. Fishing has been a passion of mine since I was young, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to share that passion with undergraduate students here.
I’m a Hoosier at heart, like all Indiana natives, and basketball runs in my blood. As a teenager, my goal was to play basketball for as long as I could and then coach it until I died. So far, so good! I have had the opportunity to coach at the high school level, NCAA Division III, NCAA Division II and the professional level. Recently, I was named the Interim Head Men’s Basketball Coach at MU after the departure of Coach Pat Zipfel. I could never have imagined the opportunity to serve in this role when I was a student. My goal is to instill a culture of integrity within our program that fits well within the Mansfield University Creed of character, scholarship, culture, and service.
Coming back to MU had other far-reaching benefits for me. It’s here that I met my wife Erin, an alumna of MU. And it’s here, that we’re raising our two children. I’ve also had opportunities to travel throughout much of the east coast of the United States and Canada meeting many outstanding counselors, community members, coaches, students, and parents.
Mansfield University truly embodies what the word family is all about, and I feel lucky to be able to come ‘home’ every day when I arrive to work on campus. Mansfield positively impacted my life forever. And for that, I say thank you MU.
Go Mounties!
The Writer
John Szentesy is a 1998 and 2012 graduate of Mansfield University earning a Liberal Studies degree and M.Ed. in Elementary Education respectively. John resides in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania with his two children and his wife Erin Henneman Szentesy ’11 (M.Ed.). John assumed the role of Interim Head Men’s Basketball Coach at MU in September. John makes his home debut as head coach on Wednesday, November 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Decker Gymnasium as our Mountaineers face-off with Salem University.
