EMU’s Homecoming and Family Weekend presents a special athletics-themed TenTalks on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m. in the MainStage Theater.
Come early to get your seat, because TenTalks is a favorite annual event of the weekend.
Three alumni provide a 10-minute talk, with time for questions afterwards.
Hear from Sue Blauch ‘86, Harrisonburg, Va. and Naples, Fla., senior director of WNBA referee performance and development.; Jered Lyons ‘08, director of athletics and basketball coach at Washington Adventist University; and Dr. Todd Weaver ‘87, orthodontist and distance runner.
The biographies below were provided by our speakers.
Sue Blauch ‘86
Sue recalls her love of sports developing during her early grade school years on the playground at Short Gap Elementary School in West Virginia. Whether it was a kickball game at recess, gymnastics in PE class or basketball, Sue was all in. If you gave her a ball she would gladly kick it, throw it or shoot it! When she was nine, her parents bought a basketball hoop to share with her sister. Sue spent most all of her after-school hours at that hoop — from the time her homework was done until it was too dark to see the rim.
Sue played basketball, volleyball and threw the shot put for Eastern Mennonite High School. At EMU, she played basketball for four seasons and softball for two seasons. She describes herself as a quite ordinary and average athlete who occasionally could deliver above average performances.
After college, she was a residence director and began her coaching career, serving as an assistant coach under Sandy Brownscombe with the EMU women’s team while also coaching the girl’s varsity team at EMHS. Two years later, Sue was hired as an assistant director of admissions. This ended her coaching, but longing to continue her involvement in the sport of basketball, she reluctantly yet inquisitively accepted an invitation to referee church league basketball at EMHS. This was the beginning of a new venture as a basketball referee that allowed an ordinary and very average athlete to experience extraordinary events, people and places.
Sue was a referee of NCAA women’s basketball for 20 seasons and in the WNBA for 20 seasons before being asked to become the first director of officials for the WNBA, a position she has held since August 2018.
Jered Lyons ’08
Jered Lyons ’08 is director of athletics and in his ninth season as head women’s basketball coach at Washington Adventist University. The longest tenured and all-time winningest coach in program history, he has guided the program to four consecutive winning seasons and three semi-final appearances. Prior to this role, he was interim athletic director, and sports information director and compliance coordinator at WAU.
Jared spent several years at EMU as an advisor for multicultural and international students, assistant fitness coordinator, instructor in the Intensive English Program, and assistant men’s basketball coach. One highlight of his coaching career was contributing to the 2013-14 squad’s 17-11 overall record and an appearance in the ODAC semifinals.
Prior to EMU, he was a graduate assistant men’s basketball coach at Salisbury University under Josh Merke from 2011-2013. He served as recruiting coordinator, camp director for the Seagulls Day camp, assistant director for the Nike overnight camp, and facilitated daily operations of the program. During his final season with the Seagulls, he helped the team reach a mark of 19-8 overall season record. He also earned his master’s degree in post-secondary education at Salisbury University in 2013.
From 2010-11, he taught ESL at N-Kids Academy in Icheon-si, South Korea. During his time abroad, he had the opportunity to visit Thailand and Japan.
He currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his wife Shari and their twins Mazin and Maya.
Todd Weaver ‘87
Todd Weaver ran cross country and track for the Royals. He met his future wife, Anne Kauffman ‘88, who was also involved in athletics at EMU.
He attended Temple Dental School and graduated with a Doctor of Dental Medicine from Temple University School of Dentistry in 1991. Todd also holds a masters in the Academy of General Dentistry, board certification in orthodontics in the International Association of Orthodontics and a certificate in oral surgery.
Todd owns two practices in southeast Pennsylvania. Anne is director of pastoral services at Landis Homes. Their three children, Keri, Lara, and Seth, are all EMU alumni.
Todd has continued to run after his EMU days. What did he and Anne learn from their years as Royals? How did competing at the collegiate level impact their lives?
So happy for Sue Blauch.
With her aunt Toots Blauch, we would watch her when she referried women’s basketball all over the country!
Happy to hear of Jered’s progression in work and life experience. He was such a great team player on the basketball court. Congrats on the family and twins:)