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North Carolina Wesleyan University Battling Bishops

USA South Conference

Year Founded: 1956, football in 2004

Location: Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Total Attendance: 1337

Mascot: Wes

Cheerleaders: 2023-2024

Stadium: Vernon T Bradley Jr Stadium

Stadium Location: On Campus

Conference Champions 3: 2007, 2009, 2010

Number of Postseason Games: 3: 2007 (1-1), 2009 (0-1)

National Titles : 0

Rivals

Methodist University

  • Like North Carolina Wesleyan, and most of the USA South Conference, Methodist is also a private university associated with the United Methodist Church. North Carolina Wesleyan trails 8-11, and won the most recent iteration of the matchup. These teams have played each other every year that North Carolina Wesleyan has had a football team, with the exception of 2016 featuring a cancelled matchup due to Hurricane Matthew. Methodist is the most played team for the Battling Bishops.

2023 Season

Record: [4-6]

9/2 vs. Randolph-Macon L 51-9

9/9 at Ferrum L 34-0

9/16 at Bridgewater L 41-12

9/30 vs. Belhaven* L 35-14

10/7 at LaGrange* W 35-14

10/14 vs. Greensboro* W 34-28

10/21 vs. Southern Virginia* W 34-7

10/28 at Methodist* W 27-3

11/4 vs. Maryville* L 49-14

11/11 at Huntingdon* L 21-0

Coach: Jeff Filkovski

Roster 2023-2024

The Greats

Greatest Games:

35-34 vs Washington & Jefferson 2007

  • In Washington, PA, the Presidents of W&J are sitting pretty as the 1 seed. Since 1975, the 1st seed has not lost to an 8 seed. That all changed after this game. W&J are 10-0, North Carolina Wesleyan is 8-2, losing 2 out of conference games earlier the year. The USA South is normally extremely weak in the playoffs, having a 6-24 (20%) record since 1999. The Battling Bishops keep it close and only trail by 7 at the end of the 1st quarter, but take the lead 14-13 after an 87 yard kick return. The two come to a 28-28 tie by the end of the 4th quarter, and the dream in Washington, PA has became a nightmare. In overtime North Carolina Wesleyan strikes first with a touchdown and extra point, but Washington & Jefferson want to put this game to an end. Chuck Grabner has the ball at the 3 yard line for the 2-point conversion, and the rush just can not make it to the endzone, with North Carolina Wesleyan winning the right to get curb stomped by Mary-Hardin Baylor 00-64 in the next round of the playoffs.

Greatest Coaches:

Jack Ginn

  • Coach Ginn was there since the beginning, and is also responsible for the amazing upset against Washington & Jefferson. He boasts a 57.5% winning record and 23-17 overall. While Coach Henninger and Filkovski have more wins, Henninger barely crosses the 50% winning percentage and Filkovski has a sub 50% win record. Ginn has the record for the most wins in Battling Bishop history. He left North Carolina Wesleyan for Grand Valley State, and stayed there until 2019.

Traditions

  • Pep Band

The Battling Bishops maintain a modest Pep Band to play for Battling Bishops Events. Faculty and Students are welcome to attend the Pep Band, and students receive academic credit for their participation.

Campus and Surrounding Area

Rocky Mount Population: 54,013

Rocky Mount Skyline

Iconic Campus Building: Braswell Administration Building

Local Dining: Gardner’s Barbecue Restaurant, Mayflower Seafood Restaurant, Brian’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers

Random Trivia

  • North Carolina Wesleyan’s first game was an 07-24 away loss to the Shenandoah Hornets
  • North Carolina Wesleyan’s first win was a 14-06 win at home against the Greensboro Pride
  • North Carolina Wesleyan College became a University in 2022
  • Before playing at Vernon T Bradley Jr Stadium, the Battling Bishops played at Rocky Mount Athletic Football Stadium

 

What Is and What is to Come

North Carolina Wesleyan is itching for a return too where they used to be. They have not had a winning season since 2019, and have not even held a share of a conference title since 2010. As Belhaven has been welcomed into the USA South, the challenge increases for that return to dominance. Like a lot of the USA South, The Battling Bishops also struggle out of conference, in particular Rocky Mount has not seen their university win an out of conference game since 2019. Coach Filkovski has been with the Battling Bishops since 2013, and while he has the most amount of wins, He has only had 1 winning season since being hired in 2013. Does North Carolina Wesleyan value the consistency of 3-7 and 5-5 seasons, or do they want something more?

Overtime

  • Before the college was chartered, the trustees were headquartered in the Ricks Hotel
  • The Athletic Logo is based off of Wesleyan Circuit Riders. The Bishop’s name is Wes, while the Horse’s name is Charger. The Athletic Logo also features a Bible, and was approved in 2006.
  • Rhonda Vonshay Sharpe, the founder and current president of the WISHER, is a North Carolina Wesleyan Alumni  

Athletics Homepage

Contributors: u/TajikistanBall

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