Finish times for the Ithaca College men’s track and field team fell hard last season — its lowest results in former head coach Jim Nichols’ history of coaching the team. Looking ahead to the season, senior pole vaulter Shaun Herlihy said the team is out for vengeance.

“It was more of a wake up call than anything,” Herlihy said. “I think we knew it was a little bit of a down year last year, but we’re definitely taking that as motivation.”

With a fresh leader and a packed roster, the Bombers are back with the goal of rising to the top of the Liberty League again. Last season, the Bombers had a sixth place finish in the 2024 Liberty League Indoor Championships and a tie for 20th at the All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Conference Indoor Championships.

This result was unusual. Under Nichols, the Bombers were a powerhouse, winning 19 indoor conference championships over 36 seasons. In the regional championships, their lowest finish before last season was 10th place, and they placed in the top five in 28 regional championships. 

After the season, Nichols retired, opening the position to head coach Stargell Williams.

“I’m excited to lead my own program,” Williams said. “It’s sad leaving somewhere you worked for so long, but at the same time it’s time for me to spread my wings and fly.”

Before joining the college, Williams spent six years at Ursinus College, where he served as associate head coach, throws coach and recruiting coordinator. As an elite student-athlete, he was two-time All-American and a three-time national championship thrower at Coffeyville Community College and graduated from Florida State University in 2015. 

Williams said it is clear that every athlete on the team has the drive to be a fierce competitor. 

“I think we got kids that are just hungry to get better,” Williams said. “Change is different and it’s difficult, but … I can kind of see them this year just being hungry to get better and just improve.”

The team’s roster inflated from 38 members to 53 members, including 20 new first-year students. Herlihy said the first-year students have a high level of potential. With that, the Bombers also have some key performers returning from injuries like Herlihy, junior pole vaulter Rob George and junior hurdles and jumps performer Brett Atkin. Herlihy said the injuries largely hurt the team.

“In the fall, we were able to see them and see what they’re going to do,” Herlihy said. “Then this spring came around, we just weren’t actually able to see [their ability]”

Turnover is also prevalent as the Bombers lose key performers. Brendan Sheehan ’24, who had the best results for the team in the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault, long jump and shot put events last indoor season, has graduated. Former pole vaulter Dominic Mikula ’24 has also graduated. At the college, Mikula was an eight-time All-American who was named Liberty League Outdoor Field Performer of the Year twice, a seven-time NCAA Qualifier and Indoor Niagara Region Field Athlete of the Year. Mikula transitioned from student-athlete to assistant coach to benefit the team in a different way. Then-sophomore CJ Jones, who had last season’s best 200-meter time, has also left the team. Even with the turnover, Herlihy said he thinks the team has the potential to make a deep run in the Liberty League.

In addition to a revamped roster, the Bombers have expanded their coaching staff beyond Williams. Mikula will coach pole vault, and Jennifer Potter, head coach of the women’s track and field team, will oversee sprints, hurdles and relays for both teams. Erin Dinan, men’s and women’s cross-country head coach, will handle distance events, while Williams takes over the throwing squad, replacing former assistant Justin Showstead.

“The new staff also will help in recruiting,” Williams said. “I think Dom has already done a really good job. Even though he’s new to the coaching side of things, he’s done a good job from a recruiting perspective for us. [I’m] definitely excited for all facets of [the coaching staff].”

Some key returners the Bombers have are sophomore Joseph Napolitano in hurdles and jumps, juniors Noah McKibben and Matt Lokshin in the multi and junior Ben Buffone in the distance events. Last season, McKibben and Lokshin were the Bombers strongest performers in the heptathlon events placing third and fourth in the 2024 Liberty League Indoor Championships, respectively.

For this year’s Bombers’ squad, sophomore sprinter George Nilson said it is the chemistry that separates them from the rest of the league.

“We’ve just grown closer because we spend more time together, and we’ve all tried to really welcome the large freshman class,” Nilson said. “We’re also closer with the women’s team, because we’re just working closer within my practice and we’re all coached by the same coaches now. So I think that will help the team dynamic of us supporting each other.

To capture the Liberty League title, the Bombers will face tough competition, including the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers, who won last season’s indoor league championship by 47.5 points and the outdoor league title by 95.5 points. Additionally, the Bombers will have to go against the University of Rochester Yellowjackets, a team that placed second in both the indoor and outdoor league title. Nilson said tough competitors are a core piece of the Bombers’ motivation. 

“I think it’s good that there’s good competition everywhere in each event, because all that competition pushes our guys,” Nilson said. “I think it’s gonna be a good year.”