Category: Student Spotlights

by Evelyn Lane

The end of the Spring semester means saying goodbye to five RHBSSI interns. These interns helped uphold and spread the RHBSSI mission in various ways, such as through our social media and student-oriented events. They have left a lasting impression on the Institute and shared their insight about their time here. 

Griffin Barfield, Writer/Editor

Griffin Barfield is a junior Communication major and Spanish minor. Alongside interning for the Institute, he is the sports editor of The Tiger, Clemson’s student newspaper. He utilized his skills from this position to highlight Clemson University faculty, staff, students and events that align with the Institute. He skillfully translated the work and stories of the Clemson community into captivating sports science pieces for all audiences to enjoy.

“I’m so happy with how my time with the Institute ended up this semester,” Barfield said. “From forming great connections to connecting with Clemson’s campus more, I’m proud of the work I accomplished here this spring.”

Barfield will be graduating from Clemson in December of 2025. This summer, he plans to go back home and continue improving his writing and editorial skills in New Jersey. 

“I hope to come back to the Institute next fall as a writing intern again, and as for this summer, I’ll be looking at freelance writing for my local publications in New Jersey.”

Evelyn Lane, Communications Lead

Evelyn Lane is a junior Marketing major and Spanish minor. Before interning at RHBSSI, she was a brand strategist and account manager for Cadency, Clemson’s student-led brand agency. She used her knowledge of social media strategies and analytics to aid the Institute in growing its social media presence and maintaining a cohesive brand image. 

“My time with RHBSSI has helped me grow in many different aspects of my life,” Lane said. “I was able to collaborate with people from all different majors and backgrounds; I learned how to be confident in my ideas, and incorporate the ideas of others into the social media plan, and allow everyone to feel heard.”

Lane will stay in Clemson and continue her internship with the Institute this summer.

“I am so excited to continue working with RHBSSI, watching our media presence grow, and figuring out how to utilize each platform to the best of our abilities.”

Natalie Bell, Graphic Designer

Natalie Bell is a graduating senior Graphic Communications major with a minor in Brand Communications. While interning with RHBSSI, she was also Cadency’s creative director. This semester marks the end of her two semesters with the Institute, where she has been able to showcase her creative talent. 

“I have loved my past two semesters with the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute. Since I am a Graphic Communications major and Brand Communications minor, I am not in the sports realm. This internship allowed me to participate in the athletics and research side of Clemson University,” Bell said. “I have gotten to be a part of some fantastic opportunities, such as photographing Clemson’s first Paralympic soccer match and designing mini golf scorecards for our Research Symposium. RHBSSI has made me a more well-rounded graphic designer!”

Bell is graduating this May, and her future endeavors are bright. 

“Upon graduation on May 8, I will be starting my full-time position as a Graphic Designer for FerebeeLane in Greenville, SC.” 

Nicole Souza, Technical Communications Specialist 

Nicole Souza is a graduating senior Bioengineering major. During her time with RHBSSI, she conducted research surrounding Real Madrid NEXT technology partners and utilized her scientific skillset to write blog posts about Clemson’s STEM impacts and CHIP (Clemson Headgear Impact Performance) Lab outcomes. 

“It’s been amazing getting to see all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into not just sports science, but also supporting the University and its students,” Souza said. “My time at RHBSSI taught me a lot about the side of science I had not seen in my classes, like marketing, communication and outreach, and I’m really grateful for that.”

Although Souza is graduating this May, she plans to continue her path as a Tiger through Clemson’s Master’s program. 

“After graduation this May, I’ll be interning at Arthrex as a product management intern, working with orthopedic medical devices and instruments. Even better, I’ll be coming back to Clemson in the fall to start my Master’s of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering. Go Tigers!”

Keeleigh Bush, Events Lead

Keeleigh Bush is a graduating senior Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management major with an emphasis in Tourism and Event Management. She is also the public relations chair for the Clemson Events Planners Association. With this background, she has excelled in planning, coordinating and executing speaker events and campus activations. 

“I had such a great time serving as the Events Intern this semester,” Bush said. “It was incredibly fun and inspiring to work alongside such a talented group of fellow interns.” 

Bush is graduating alongside Souza and Bell this May, and it ecstatic about future opportunities. 

“I’m graduating this spring and currently exploring opportunities—excited for what’s ahead and staying open to new possibilities!”

---

Whether they are staying in Tiger Town or taking their talents elsewhere, we know our interns will thrive in the face of any challenge and we thank them for their hard work this semester! 

by Griffin Barfield

A former intern at the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute, Katie Gerbasich, a junior Sports Communication major from Houston, TX, has been working closely with various teams and departments through sport, building off of what she learned from the Institute. 

Following her stint in the fall of 2024 with the Institute, Gerbasich is now working with the Baseball Analytics team through Clemson Olympic Sports Science. She works specifically with the hitting team, focusing on scouting and player development from the hitter’s perspective. 

“We have access to a database that stores tons of information from every single play in the game,” Gerbasich said. “It’s our responsibility to take that information, filter out what’s important, and communicate it to our coaching staff.”

Gerbasich and her team also focus on opponents for Clemson Baseball, picking out key information to highlight its opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. From there, she helps communicate this data to the coaching staff for game planning. 

“It’s been super cool to experience the behind-the-scenes of our team and see how our work makes an impact,” she said.

In addition, Gerbasich joined Tiger View Media as a sports writer, covering various Clemson Baseball, Softball and Women’s Lacrosse events over the course of the spring seasons. She also received an opportunity through the media group to cover the Clemson Football spring game, calling it a “highlight moment.”

From her previous experience as an event and writing assistant with the Institute, she feels that her writing skills have been elevated to another level, being able to write a lot more with Tiger View Media. 

“It feels like I’m seemingly able to pump out article after article,” Gerbasich said. “I’m so much more confident now in my abilities now, thanks to the support of the Institute.”

As for the future, Gerbasich will plan to stay with both programs, staying with baseball analytics until baseball season ends this summer. Furthermore, she will continue to work in sports media with Tiger View Media, covering football for the publication in the fall. 

She hopes to graduate early and begin pursuing her Master’s degree in Sports Analytics at Clemson, aspiring to work for a professional team in analytics or communication. 

By Griffin Barfield

On Saturday, April 19, the only University-level cerebral palsy soccer program of its kind in the country, Clemson Paralympic Soccer, made history.

The team played and defeated the CP Soccer All Stars 6-1 at Historic Riggs Field at their first real match in program history.

While the players lifted a trophy for the win, they weren’t just thrilled with the hardware: they were ecstatic that they even had the opportunity to play.

Shea Hammond is a graduate student in communication who has been with the team for several years, the first undergraduate player in the program’s history. Seeing the event come together was enough to inspire a win. 

“It’s the name of the field. It’s historic,” Hammond said after the game. “To finally play on this field, it’s historic. It’s indescribable.”

Head coach and assistant professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Felipe Tobar, watched his players’ dreams come true that afternoon. Many of them had dreamed of playing collegiate sports after high school, a period where many athletes with cerebral palsy (CP) stop playing.

“We’d like to say thank you to the community and the fanbase who supported us,” Tobar said. “They had a dream to play in a college stadium and they accomplished it.”

Four different Clemson players scored, while Hammond scored a hat-trick with all three of his goals coming in the second half. One player, Tyler Bennett, is a team alumnus and one of the first two players to join the program in 2017. Bennett brought practices featuring movements, passing and other workouts from the U.S. CP National Team.

It was a new Clemson experience for Bennett, coming back to campus and playing in a full game of soccer with CP rules. 

“I think it went well for the program,” Bennett said. “They showed that if you’re training here full-time, you’re going to do pretty well.”

Many faces from the Clemson Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams were present. Flags flew and celebrations commenced in the stands whenever a player scored. The entire women’s lacrosse team attended, surprising goalkeeper Max Alberici, the team’s manager.

That wasn’t the best moment of the game in Alberici’s opinion, however. His favorite experience came from watching substitute goalkeeper, Ethan Donahue, play. He joined the team several weeks before the match after Hammond recruited him on campus. Donahue and his disability were welcomed by the team in open arms.

“I was more happy to get him in the game,” Alberici said.

“There’s no relationship like an adaptive sport relationship,” Hammond said, “and like a CP soccer family.”

The match was the last that this team will play all together, as they say goodbye to Hammond following five seasons with the program. As he graduates from Clemson, Hammond looks forward to working with cerebral palsy and Paralympic athletes in the future. 

“That’s a lifetime of work that I’m going to commit to and making sure that we can grow this program in this sport as much as possible,” Hammond said.

For Tobar, the practices and cultivation of this match proved to be a great success. Earlier in the week, the team played Daniel High School in a scrimmage to prepare for the game. Now, Tobar and his team are “blessed and honored” to have the opportunity to represent Clemson.

“That’s the only official game that we will play as a team,” Tobar said. “I could not be more proud.”

Click here to check out more photos from the match. 

By Griffin Barfield

Clemson professor of sport and recreation management in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM), Skye Arthur-Banning, was at the London Paralympic Games in 2012 with a group of students when an idea came to him. 

Five years later, that idea would form Clemson Paralympic Soccer, the only collegiate program of its kind in the nation. Now, on April 19 at 11 a.m., the team will be playing their first-ever match in front of a crowd at Historic Riggs Field. 

History of Clemson Paralympic Soccer

Arthur-Banning was a soccer referee in 2012 working various professional leagues and U.S. Open cup games. Following the 2012 Paralympic Games, he decided to devote his time to Para soccer, seeing the high performance of blind and cerebral palsy (CP) soccer players during that time.

“Instantly, I knew that was my next step,” he said. “There’s my next opportunity to continue refereeing, but also begin to support those with disabilities in sport environments.

 

Felipe Tobar, assistant professor in the PRTM department, is head coach of the team. Arthur-Banning took notice of Tobar in 2021 while he was assistant coach for Daniel High School’s varsity soccer team.

“They needed a coach, so they needed structured training sessions,” Tobar recalled. “Since I was doing that at Daniel, he invited me to join the program as a head coach. I immediately said yes.”

Strength through adversity 

Strength through adversity is the team’s motto. Tobar encourages the team to play and live by this every day.

Currently, the team is made up of six players who have cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that can affect movement and posture. They also welcome players who have suffered a stroke or any severe brain injury. 

Tobar has a connection with brain injury through his mother who had a stroke in 2011. He took care of her for eight years in Brazil before moving to the U.S. to earn his Ph.D. in parks, recreation and tourism management at Clemson.

“I saw what a stroke can do to a person, and I empathize with the players,” he said. “I had this background with my mom in which you can’t treat them as victims, you have to really see them as equals.”

Tobar pushes his players with drills and feedback three mornings a week. 

“We keep the sessions intense and I don’t treat them differently,” he said.

The players expend three times the amount of energy on the field as able-bodied soccer players due to quicker muscle fatigue – therefore, their recovery process takes longer.

For goalkeeper Max Alberici, who has spastic diplegia which affects more than one limb, he burns almost four times more energy than the average player. Alberici is a senior sports communication major who grew up playing lacrosse but saw this as an opportunity to continue playing sports in college, which was his dream.

“I hadn’t played organized soccer since eighth grade and I just go ‘okay, I’m doing this,’” Alberici said when he first heard about the program. 

Now as the team’s starting goalkeeper, he embraces the training sessions and their intensity. 

“There is definitely an intensity that I do enjoy and I had to learn to enjoy,” Alberici said. “But I think overall, I think having a game to work towards is going to make this a lot easier, mentally, for me.”

Because this program at Clemson is unique, four of the team’s six players are also part of the player pool for the U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy National Team, where they are regularly picked to play. 

Midfielder Chile Chitulangoma, a junior mechanical engineering major, is one of those players who joined in the fall of 2022. He is hemiplegic on the left side of his body affecting his strength and coordination, but takes advantage of playing quickly to overcome these obstacles. He describes the practices as tactical.

“A lot has to do with technical ability being refined with your technique on the ball,” Chitulangoma said. “So, a lot of the work we do has to do with a lot of different passing patterns and precise movements.”

In the beginning years of the program, the team would practice at local recreational fields like Nettles Park and the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex. Since 2024, the team practices at Clemson Soccer’s men’s and women’s practice facilities with help from Clemson Athletics. 

“Athletics has given a lot of support to us,” Tobar said. “That elevated the level of our training sessions.”

As the only U.S. school with this type of program, Clemson allots eight scholarships that allow out-of-state players to pay in-state tuition — the only university in the world that does so for CP soccer.  

The match

Tobar describes the upcoming match as a debut for everyone — the first time Clemson Paralympic Soccer will play against other Paralympic soccer players from across the country for a trophy. 

“We hope this game will bring attention to our program and the University this week,” Tobar said.

Players who have recently been admitted to play for the Tigers next season will also be on this all-star team of contenders. The captain of the U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy National Team, Josh Burnais, will be coaching the opposing team. 

CP soccer rules are slightly different from traditional soccer rules. The game will be played in two halves, each 30 minutes long. Compared to soccer’s standard 11-on-11 format, CP soccer is played 7-on-7 with field dimensions and goal sizes a little smaller.

Throw-ins can change to simply rolling the ball in underhand. If the ball unintentionally hits the CP-impacted hand in a natural position, there is no handball offense. These changes were made based on how the body functions for a CP player. 

The event on April 19 will also be open to children with disabilities in the Upstate to have a one-hour clinic with the team from 9 to 10 a.m. to meet and play together. During the starting lineups, they will enter the field with the players. 

“We want them to see their future on the pitch, so they can reflect and see that although there are barriers that they are going to face, it’s still possible to strive and succeed,” Tobar said. 

For many of the players, it is a dream come true. Alberici grew up wanting to play in a stadium, and now his dream is becoming a reality. 

“My main goal was always to be a college athlete,” Alberici said. “The soccer piece was much later than almost every single one of my teammates, but I’d never thought I’d play college sports in a college stadium.”

Meanwhile, for players like Chitulangoma, educating the public about overcoming adversity is what is most exciting. 

“I think it’s a very unique opportunity to [educate about my disability] with a game of soccer,” Chitulangoma said. “I don’t think there’s a better way we could show our game and our disability to the community.”

Clemson Athletics is supporting the event. The day will see several Clemson Men’s and Women’s Soccer players making an appearance, with some taking part in halftime promotions.

Tobar also plans to auction signed soccer balls and other items to fundraise for the team. 

That same weekend, Clemson Adaptive Sports and Recreation will be hosting the Palmetto Games, a regional adaptive sport event featuring track and field, swimming and air rifle competitions. 

“We want to have as many people as possible,” Tobar said.  “There are no other sports that are going to be playing that morning, so it’s a full day of Para sports.”

With kickoff set for 11 a.m. on April 19, Arthur-Banning, Tobar and the team are ready for their first organized CP game in program history, hoping to spread more awareness about Para sports and the work that the players have put in. 

“I think this game provides that opportunity for them to showcase all the hard work that they’ve put in, all the skill and talent that they have and, hopefully, be able to do that in front of not only their Clemson peers, but their community at large,” Arthur-Banning said.

“This gives them that opportunity to show that off a little bit and feel like this is their payback, if you will. This is their moment.”

Arthur-Banning and Tobar are faculty fellows of the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute at Clemson, sponsor of the trophy for the historic Paralympic soccer match. 

By Keeleigh Bush

Clemson University’s Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute (RHBSSI) recently showcased at the College Sport Research Institute’s (CSRI) annual conference on college sport held March 19-21 in Columbia, South Carolina. 

CSRI’s mission is to encourage and support interdisciplinary and inter-university college sport research, serve as the research consortium for college sport researchers from across the United States, and disseminate college sport research results to academics, college practitioners, and the general public.

As a premiere sponsor of the event, RHBSSI contributed to the success of the conference and engaged in meaningful discussions with scholars, practitioners and industry leaders studying college sport. Several RHBSSI faculty fellows and Clemson students attended, gaining valuable insights and sharing their cutting-edge research and innovation in sport. This gathering highlighted the Institute’s commitment to advancing research, education and collaboration on issues in intercollegiate athletics. 

Clemson expertise on college sport 

Faculty and Ph.D. students from the following Clemson departments attended the conference on behalf of RHBSSI and presented their research on college sport. 

Department of Communication

• Stewardship in a New Era of College Athletics: Examining Reddit Discourse around Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Collective Donations
  • Virginia Harrison, Clemson University / Marissa Bennett, Clemson University

Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management

• Uncovering the Difficult Heritage of Southern College Football Stadiums
  • Felipe Tobar, Clemson University / Bryan Clift, North Carolina State University / Lauren Duffy, Clemson University
• Poster: College Football Sport Event Experience and Well-Being: An Application of the Stimulus-Organism-Response Theory
  • Sunwoo Park, Clemson University / (Advisor) Charles Chancellor, Clemson University / (Advisor) Lauren Duffy, Clemson University

Department of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development

• The Local Perspective: Regional Television Framing of Name, Image, and Likeness
  • Chris Corr, Clemson University / Molly Harry, University of Florida
• “We have great kids…I shouldn’t call them kids”: Examining Paternalism in Collegiate Athletics
  • Chris Corr, Clemson University / Robert Hoffman, The Pennsylvania State University Abington / Richard M. Southall, University of South Carolina / Christopher Atwater, Troy University
• From the Locker Room to the Classroom: Exploring Student-Athletes’ Interest in Teaching
  • Sarah Stokowski, Clemson University / Alex E. Chisholm, Clemson University / Andrew Rudd, Franklin Pierce University / Michael Godfrey, Clemson University

“‘Thank you to the Institute for supporting me to attend CSRI,” said Sarah Stokowski, associate professor of athletic leadership in the Clemson University Department of Education and Organizational Leadership Development. “I had the best time! It was also nice to see so many of my Clemson colleagues in attendance.” 

Sponsorship impact 

“The CSRI conference provided an engaging venue to meet experts from across the country leading the academic study of college sport,” said John DesJardins, interim director of RHBSSI. “Our faculty fellows from Clemson’s College of Education have a rich history of attending, presenting at, and leading the conference, and we were honored to be involved this year and support several faculty and students to attend and present.” 

RHBSSI set up a table at the event, providing an established space to meet attendees and talk about potential cross-over. 

“Partnering with CSRI was the perfect opportunity to support Clemson faculty in the field and facilitate more cross-collaboration – between our faculty and those at other universities studying intercollegiate athletics,” said Kayla Rogers, assistant director of RHBSSI. 

“Brooks helped make the conference be the best that it could be and I’m beyond appreciative and grateful,” said Chris Corr, executive director of CSRI and senior lecturer at Clemson University. 

Click here to learn more about RHBSSI. Click here to learn more about CSRI.

By Nicole Souza

March is Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Science and Engineering Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of women in STEM and highlight the importance of supportive communities in these fields. While science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) offer incredible opportunities, gender disparities remain, particularly in computer science. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, girls make up 61% of advanced placement (AP) biology students, 52% in AP statistics and 50% in AP chemistry. However, that number drops to just 23% in AP computer science.¹ This gender gap persists beyond primary education, continuing into college and the workforce. Every day, women work to forge their own pathways to success.

Paige Wasiela, a senior computer science student at Clemson University, exemplifies a woman who has found academic and personal support in her field. Through extracurricular involvement and women’s intramural sports, she has thrived in a male-dominated field.

Paige was initially drawn to STEM by its limitless possibilities. “I was inspired to pursue STEM because I saw the opportunities post-grad to contribute to creating something that society, and myself, could benefit from,” she said. 

Her journey has not been without challenges. She found her courses rigorous and, like many women in STEM, initially struggled to build a support system in her male-dominated major.  “The rigor of courses in the STEM fields, computer science specifically, have proven to be very challenging, but by seeking help from TAs [teaching assistants] and professors, I have been able to pass my classes and learn.” 

However, academic support from professors and TAs can only go so far. Finding a community of like-minded individuals became a crucial part of her academic success.

When looking for such a community, Paige found Theta Tau, a co-ed professional engineering organization after receiving a recommendation from a friend. Joining Theta Tau would shape the next three years of her college experience. Through the organization, Paige built lasting friendships, received help in classes from people she would have never met otherwise, and even secured a full-time job that she is passionate about. Theta Tau offered mentorship and support, and as a group that is equally composed of men and women, it provided a close-knit network of like-minded women who shared her academic drive and social interests.

Outside the classroom, Paige excelled in athletics. Her love for basketball led her to join the Theta Tau women’s intramural basketball team. What started as a fun activity quickly became something more meaningful. “Playing together and having fun creates a bond between us that makes us want to get to know each other better outside of the sport and be better friends,” Paige explained. This camaraderie extended into academics. “Getting to know people on the basketball court opens the door to being more comfortable around each other, especially when asking for help on things like academics.”

Mentorship has played a significant role in Paige’s journey. Admiring her teammates on the court often translated to admiration in the classroom and beyond. “When you admire someone’s work on the court, you can easily admire their work in academia, or just in life,” she said. Seeing older members succeed in their coursework provided both inspiration and guidance. Now preparing to graduate, she hopes to pass on an important lesson to younger students: never be afraid to connect with older members of your organization or major. “We’re all students in STEM. We’re all in this together.”

For girls considering a career in STEM, Paige says to “go for it! You never know until you try, and it shouldn’t be something that scares anyone. There’s a community out there for girls in STEM.” 

While statistics show progress in closing the gender gap in many fields, there is still a significant disparity. Building relationships with other women in the field can help overcome challenges and foster success.

Paige’s story is a testament to the power of community, mentorship and support in helping women thrive in STEM. Whether through professional organizations like Theta Tau or the shared experience of sports, finding a network of supportive women can be life changing. As we celebrate Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Science and Engineering Month, let Paige’s journey inspire the next generation of women in STEM.

1. National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies. (2025, February 12). March is Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Science and Engineering Month! National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies. https://niccs.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-career-resources/featured-stories/march-expanding-girls-horizons-science-and  ↩︎

My Journey to Clemson Sports Car Club

By Natalie Bell

 I grew up surrounded by my dad’s love of cars, specifically BMWs. He even bought me my own BMW to push around the house, and I spent Sundays with him watching F1 races in my lucky checkered flag socks, cheering on Kimi Raikkonen. I spent hours in the garage while he worked on his autocross car, so much so that when I was three, I begged him for my mechanic’s creeper to see what he was doing.

My dad was constantly fixing up his car for autocross- a racing event where drivers race one at a time through a cone-lined course. The objective is speed and agility, as hitting a cone results in a time penalty. The event organizers calculate all the times, and drivers can see where their times compare to their peers. As I watched him draw out autocross courses for our local Baltimore autocross group, I told him that I couldn’t wait to turn thirteen so that I could ride in the car with him as he raced. 

That dream would end up on pause for a while. My dad sold his tan BMW to go back to school and didn’t race for a decade. Eventually, my dad stumbled upon 24 Hours of Lemons, which is probably the weirdest racing event you could ever partake in. 24 Hours of Lemons is a riff off of 24 Hours of Lemans, a prestigious professional racing event. However, Lemons is not prestigious and is not 24 hours long.

Lemons is a two-day endurance event with various locations across the country where drivers and mechanics give old “lemons” of cars new lives as race cars. Each team must buy a car for $500 and then outfit it with a roll cage and additional safety features. My dad gathered a team of his coworkers to form Team Race Team, fixed up a BMW 318ti that hadn’t run in 10 years, and turned it into Oscar the Grouch. Or Otto, because he’s German. 

Watching my dad race again renewed my interest in racing. Eventually, I want to race alongside my dad in 24 Hours of Lemons, and autocrossing is one of the first steps. I have autocrossed as a part of Clemson Sports Car Club for the past two semesters, and I plan to continue to autocross post-grad. I love the sport of constantly trying to beat my own time while simultaneously trying to stay near my dad’s time (which is much faster than mine.) 

It’s so rewarding to participate in autocross with my dad and finally fulfill my childhood dream of racing with him. He has taught me not to give up on my passions- sometimes, they take time. 

By Griffin Barfield

As the spring semester continues to pick up, so do the actions of the students of Clemson Formula SAE (CUFSAE), who are preparing for important events in April and May. 

CUFSAE is a student race team that focuses on design, fabrication and competition of an open-wheeled, formula style race car. The team competes in the Society of Automotive Engineers student design competition.

In addition to the formulation of a race car, students have to work in all other facets of the racing business, including team management, public relations and sponsor procurement. The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute is proud to sponsor CUFSAE for another year. 

For Clemson’s team, their sights are on the Michigan FSAE Competition in May for the planning and the creation of the racecar, called Tiger 25, where they will race at the Michigan International Speedway. 

Student members of CUFSAE can join five different divisions: aerodynamics, business, chassis, electrical, powertrain and suspension. 

The team lead of the group is Grant Harley, who is studying Electrical and Computer Engineering in his first year of graduate school at Clemson. One of Harley’s main focuses is to keep the team focused on the design timeline for the car. In doing so, he sets weekly meetings with the leadership team and remains in contact with the Department of Mechanical Engineering faculty advisor. 

“The biggest thing I have to do before our car release is make sure the car is following the necessary production timeline and keeping the entire team on the same page about what needs to be done and when it needs to be done,” Harley said. 

A Charleston native, Harley is also a part of the electrical team, where he helps design the brake system plausibility device (BSPD) – a safety component that shuts the car off if the throttle position or brake pressure stop reading. 

“This helps protect the driver in the case of a malfunction in the car and protects the car from dangerous operating procedures,” Harley said. 

Harley works closely with Vehicle Operations Manager, Cameron Boerst, a Mechanical Engineering junior with an Electrical Engineering minor. Boerst’s job focuses on test-day operations, planning when the car will run, whether on or off campus.

“This requires communication and planning between divisions to make sure the rear and front wings are ready, the electronics are working, the powertrain is running, and the suspension is tuned for a day of running,” Boerst said. 

Another Charleston native, Boerst is also designing the drivetrain of the car, which is what he looks forward to the most out of this project.

“The drivetrain is responsible for delivering power from the engine to the hubs of the rear wheels,” Boerst explained. “This includes a lot of CAD modeling in SolidWorks paired with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) on the forces experienced by the drivetrain.”

No matter how strong the engine may be, suspension is incredibly important to the car’s success. This is led by fellow junior mechanical engineer and recent Brooks Scholar, Peter Gaspich, an inaugural member of the new class of automotive engineers at Clemson. Gaspich and his team focus on manufacturing and testing of the car’s suspension system ahead of the May event.

“In other words, my goal is to ensure that the driver can get optimal performance from the tires and maximize grip throughout each lap, as maintaining grip to the road is the most essential part of a fast lap time,” Gaspich said. “No matter how powerful the engine is, it won’t be going anywhere very fast if it’s just spinning tires.”

The Greenville native also has one of the most important tasks on race day: constantly studying the car’s responses and making needed changes to the car to help the driver with the ride. 

At this point in the semester, the suspension team is working on manufacturing all of the suspension parts, something that Gaspich heavily takes part in.

“This includes outlining manufacturing plans, training new members on shop equipment, coordinating with sponsors to outsource the manufacturing of more complex components and spending late nights at the shop with my closest friends!” he said. 

With a project as big as designing and building a formula race car, it’s the little steps that count. For Harley, he is most looking forward to seeing the car run on its own for the first time. 

“I am most looking forward to the first time the car runs under its own power,” he said. “It’s an extremely fulfilling moment watching this project that you’ve spent almost a year designing and building culminate into this one moment.”

Every week means the team is one step closer to the first race. With March beginning, it’s crunch time for CUFSAE. The team hopes to see successes similar to, or greater than, last year’s Tiger 24 design.

From Gaspich’s perspective, as well as many others on the team, the opportunity to work on an ongoing project to present it in front of 119 other schools is something that the classroom doesn’t provide. 

“I cannot express enough how important being involved in Formula SAE is to anyone interested in a career in motorsports, or even engineering in-general, as engineering is so much more than what you learn in the classroom,” Gaspich said. 

Whether participating as a passion project or looking for experience for a future job in the motorsports industry, all eyes look to May where Tiger 25 will be racing on asphalt that has hosted NASCAR and IndyCar events. 

By: Griffin Barfield

It’s not only the varsity sports on Clemson’s campus that leave lasting impacts on students. Even before stepping foot on campus as a student, senior Psychology major, Sydney Lavin, wanted collegiate swimming to be a part of her Tiger tenure. 

While Clemson does not hold a varsity program for swimming, Lavin knew about Clemson Club Swim – a team that would come to have a lasting impact on her life.

As a freshman looking for things to do outside of class, swim club was the first thing on her mind. From a recreational standpoint, she would be able to continue a passion of hers while connecting with other students on campus.

“I always knew that I wanted to swim during college, but not varsity since it’s so

competitive, so Clemson Club Swim was perfect!” Lavin said. “I remember at Tiger Prowl freshman year, my only goal was to find the club swim table, and I’m so glad I did because it’s seriously been one of the best decisions I’ve made.”

Immediately, she was plugged in. Not even a year into swimming with the club, Lavin found the opportunity to do more: coaching a local club team in the area. 

Now, she serves as the assistant coach for the Foothills Area YMCA’s (FAY) club team, coaching young swimmers in Seneca, South Carolina, where she has been for the last three years. 

“I’ve always thought that coaching would be fun, so it’s been the best job for me!” Lavin said.  “There’s definitely been a learning curve because I had never coached before, but it’s taught me so many lessons and life skills.”

When she first began with FAY, Lavin taught the youngest group, ranging from 6-10 years old. Now, she teaches the level above, ranging from ages 9-13. She describes the job as a “learning experience.”

Her work off campus has translated to the pool at Clemson’s Fike Recreation Center, where she has coached various practices over the years for the club team. In addition to coaching, Lavin has served as Clemson Club Swim’s treasurer for the past two years, managing the club’s budget and finances. 

However, her biggest takeaway from her four years with the team has been the interpersonal skills that she has developed with these positions. 

“I have the best group of friends from this club,” Lavin said, “but I’ve also had to learn how to communicate with University staff and others outside of the University on things like space reservations, banking, and equipment rentals for our home meet.”

These skills are important to Lavin, who is graduating this spring but plans to continue her education. She intends on pursuing a graduate degree in psychology with an Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology concentration. She would like to go into I/O psychology consulting with collegiate athletic programs or institutions. 

Lavin also hopes to continue to coach if her post-graduate studies allow. Nevertheless, this recreational sport has provided her with a skillset that will translate into the real world, and for Lavin, the field of psychology.

“I love club sports because it’s that perfect middle ground of recreation and competition, another reason why Clemson Club Swim has been so good!” Lavin said. “This position has also been helpful in pursuing a career in consulting because of the communication and analytical skills required for the job.”

As part of undergraduate studies in psychology, Lavin works on a Creative Inquiry team with RHBSSI fellow, Marissa Shuffler, Ph.D., on her Institute-funded grant work developing teams in the context of NCAA sports.

By Griffin Barfield

Coming into the new year of 2025, the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute welcomes four new and one returning student intern for the spring 2025 semester. The five come with outstanding backgrounds, looking to bring new ideas and advances to the Institute. 

Griffin Barfield 

Griffin Barfield is a junior Communication major and Spanish minor from Oceanport, NJ. He is the lead writer and editing intern for the Institute for the spring semester. This role involves providing the University with content about breakthroughs in the sports science community that are occurring at Clemson, interviewing students and faculty about the endeavors. 

“I’m excited to get going with the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute,” Barfield said. “I’m looking forward to writing about unique advances that are occurring right here on campus and the people behind them.”

In addition to writing with RHBSSI this semester, Barfield is the current sports editor of The Tiger, Clemson student newspaper. While managing a newsroom of over 23 reporters, his experience in this role will help look deeper into the people behind the advances in the sport science world, hoping to tell a one-of-a-kind story. 

Evelyn Lane

Evelyn Lane is from Piedmont, SC and is a junior Marketing major with a minor in Spanish. She is the Institute’s communications lead, creating content for the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute’s social media handles. 

“I am so excited to work with RHBSSI to help promote the Institute and all of the amazing things they do for the faculty, students, and university as a whole,” Lane said. “I am looking forward to continuing to improve my skills in marketing communications and social media strategy, as well as work with my fellow interns and see all the things we will be able to accomplish together.”

Lane previously worked with Cadency, Clemson University’s student-led brand agency, for the last two years. While working with the agency’s social media account and brand strategy, she will look to bring that experience to the Institute in the spring semester. 

Natalie Bell

Natalie Bell is a senior Graphic Communications major with a minor in Brand Communications from Greenville, SC. Returning from the fall semester, she will continue her work as the lead graphic design intern in the spring with the Institute, creating visual media to benefit sports science efforts at Clemson. 

“I am excited to return as the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute graphic design lead!” Bell said. “I loved my experience as a RHBSSI intern last fall. I look forward to seeing how I can further apply my graphic design skills to our events and promotional materials.”

Bell returns with the skills gained from the Institute a semester ago, where she will build off of her work from the fall. She is also currently the creative director in Cadency, looking to continue to use experience from her work there to enhance the Institute. 

Nicole Souza

Nicole Souza is a senior Bioengineering major from Duxbury, MA. She will serve as the technical communications specialist, acting as the technical knowledge base for concepts and technologies related to the events in sports science. She will also help with getting a firsthand look at the hard work that happens behind the scenes of these endeavors. 

“I’m really looking forward to working with the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute,” Souza said. “It’s just a unique opportunity to collaborate with students from across campus and help share the Institute’s mission.”

Previously, Souza spent time in the industry through valuable internship experiences, working with medical devices and pharmaceutical companies. It has allowed her to receive a strong, technical foundation in science and engineering, which will help recognize the actions that are being done in the field of sports science. 

Keeleigh Bush

Keeleigh Bush is from Rutherfordton, NC and is a senior Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management major with an emphasis in Tourism and Event Management. She is the events lead intern for the spring semester, arranging events over the course of the upcoming months. 

“I am extremely excited to get started this semester as the Events lead for the RHBSSI!” Bush said. “This is such an incredible opportunity to expand my network, and apply the skills and experience I have learned over the past three years. I’m looking forward to working with the team and being hands-on this semester.” 

Bush also serves as the public relations chair for the Clemson Event Planners Association. With this role, she will use her experience to help plan exciting events for RHBSSI to hold over the course of the spring semester.