Could your tax accountant run a 200-meter dash? If a former teammate eggs him on for long enough, then yes.

At the Charger Tune-Up meet on Feb. 21, Hillsdale alumni competed in multiple track and field events, including an open 200-meter dash, high jump, and pole vault during an indoor track meet at the Biermann Center. According to Donny McArdle ’25, who now works as a tax accountant at Plant Moran in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the reunion began as a joke.

During his time at Hillsdale, McArdle often challenged Shura Baldwin ’24 to a race in the 400-meter — with one catch.

“We wanted to run a race with her on hurdles — maybe a few less than she would typically have in a 400 hurdles race — and me just running,” McArdle said.

McArdle said the race never happened, but when Baldwin’s father, Pasha Ermakov, told McArdle he and his daughter would be running a 200m at the Hillsdale Tune-Up meet, the stage was set. McArdle worked his way into the line-up.

Baldwin won the long awaited duel. She’d had a child less than six months ago.

“It was pretty rough,” McArdle said. “I haven’t run like that in a long time. I didn’t break any personal records.”

Still, McArdle said, competing was worth the reunion.

Hillsdale Admissions Counselor David Chase ’19 was among the former track and field athletes who returned. Chase said although the competition began as a joke, other alumni soon joined in and he decided he had to answer the call.

Chase competed in the high jump last week like he did in college. And while he did not beat his personal best, he said he walked away with at least partial success.

“Not getting hurt was one of the goals,” Chase said. “Luckily, I managed that one.”

Ben Raffin ’22, who competed in pole vault during his time as a Charger, returned to the pit when the other alumni returned to the track last week. Raffin, who lives in Hillsdale, has maintained a relationship with Hillsdale track and assistant track coach Justin Fawley

 

Justin Fawley, an assistant men’s track coach, has only coached six guys in pole vault during his time at Hillsdale. His athletes include Connor McCormick, a current senior, and Jared Shipper ’19, both of whom competed with Raffin in college and at the Tune-Up.

“It’s been fun getting to go up against them and getting to know them, and it’s probably been fun for Fawley, too,” Raffin said.

Raffin said he also occasionally participates unattached in the long jump and triple jump and would be open to competing again during the outdoor season. Raffin added that he, like most retired athletes, needs something to keep the competitive edge.

“Twice a week I play 6 a.m. basketball with professors and staff from the college,” Raffin said. “That’s one thing that’s always fun, that gets you out of bed, and it’s a good way to start the day. I’m also a golfer. A horrendous golfer, but that’s been fun, too.”

Raffin also coaches pole vault at Hillsdale Academy.

“Coaching is obviously the best way to stay near the sport I love,” Raffin said. “And it’s less stress on the body, which is nice.”

Aside from reunion sprints against former teammates, McArdle has also found other outlets that build on the work he put in as an athlete.

“I did a marathon over the summer with a couple of teammates and then another in November with my sister,” McArdle said. “As a distance runner, it felt right to do at least one marathon. I don’t know how many I’ll do, but I’ll definitely keep running.”

McArdle said he may stick to 10K road races in the future. But he also said he’ll compete against teammates any time they’re down for it.

“Once I can get back in shape, I’ll probably show up to any meets they allow alumni to race in,” McArdle said.

Chase, on the other hand, said the Tune-Up meet was his farewell. Besides, he found other ways to stay competitive.

“Two things I have done to stay ‘competing’ since my time as a college athlete have been coaching track for six years in Texas, and beginning to train and compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,” Chase said. “Those have been good personal competitive outlets.”

Chase said he is thankful for the five years he spent at Hillsdale competing, and he knows his former teammates and other alumni appreciate the community of the program as well.

“Many alumni might think of the library, their dorm, Greek life, or even their professors when reflecting on their time here at the college,” Chase said. “But for me, and other track alumni, we go back to the Biermann Center. I think alumni like to come back and compete to relive some of the joys that made Hillsdale College special for us.”