FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Gregory Spicka, Director of Athletic Communications (610) 500-3632; gdspicka@widener.edu

CHESTER, Pa. - Over 150 members of Widener Athletics' community gathered to dedicate the Fred Dohrmann Field at Dougherty-Gillespie Park to honor retired softball coach Fred Dohrmann on Tuesday evening.

Widener Athletics Director of Athletics Jack Shafer welcomed members of the Dohrmann Family and softball alumni to celebrate the monumental occasion in softball's annual Strike Out Cancer game. Dohrmann was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma and is currently fighting his battle.
 
"It is truly an honor to be able to speak and help dedicate the field in his honor," said Widener softball alumni Ally Horvath. "Naming this field is the honor of his life and he is so grateful to Widener, the Athletic Department, athletes, alumni, and friends," said Fred's son Mike Dohrmann.
 
Dohrmann served as the softball head coach for 41 years and has been at Widener for 42. During his coaching career, Dohrmann amassed more than 650 career victories to be one of Widener's most winningest coaches in one sport in school history. Dohrmann's 2017 season will remain one of the best seasons in softball history as the Pride went on to a 28-13 season record and won their first MAC Commonwealth Championship. With the conference title, the Pride punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament and won a pair of games. That season, the Pride saw five players to the All-Conference team including now assistant coach Katie Sterling and Ally Horvath. Some of Dohrmann's most notable seasons came in 2008 where they went on to win 30 games and in 2009 when they went secured a trip to the conference championship for the first time in program history.
 
Dohrmann is known as one of the most personable and affable people on campus. Horvath noted "Fred is truly one of a kind and I know he has impacted so many lives." Once his coaching tenure came to an end, he stayed at Widener as the Director of Physical Education where he took off his coaching hat and put on a professor hat. He would go on to teach thousands of students and share his knowledge with anyone who asked.
 
A native of Philadelphia, Dohrmann earned his bachelor's degree in health, physical education and recreation from Pittsburgh in 1978 and attained his master's in physical education from West Chester in 1986.
 
The proceeds raised from softball's Strike Out Cancer game will be donated to University of Pennsylvania's Brain Tumor Lab Support Fund.
 
Widener Athletics and Softball encourage anyone to continue the support of Fred by donating to the cause. Donations can be made via check or by visiting the link above. Checks can be made out to and sent to the address below. When donating please be sure to mention "In Honor of Fred Dohrmann for the BT Lab Support Fund."
 
Address:
Penn Medicine Development
Attn: Sheryl Garton
3535 Market St., Ste. 750
Philadelphia, Pa. 19104
 
Check Payable:
Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania