Cedar Crest College Athletics

Lieutenant Commander Cheryl Griswold, a 1995 graduate, was a four-year standout for the Cedar Crest Cross Country program. A three-time All-Conference recipient, Griswold was the top runner for the, then, Classics in all competitions during her tenure, finishing third in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship meet in 1992, second in 1993 and a fifth-place finish during her 1994 season. Griswold also received the Lehigh Valley Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (LVAIAW) Senior Athlete of the Year and was also selected to the PAC-CSAC 25th Anniversary Team for her performance wearing the Black and Yellow.
 
Griswold’s decision to attend Cedar Crest was due in large part to Cross Country Coach Rev. Bill Falla. During her senior season of high school track, Coach Falla reached out to see how Cheryl was doing and how things were going with her year.  It was apparent that Coach Falla has the student-athletes best interest at heart and he is a great emissary for Cedar Crest College.
 
Cheryl arrived at Cedar Crest in the fall of 1991 for her freshman season.  Like all student-athletes she arrived to campus prior to the majority of students for cross country camp.  Rigorous twice a day practices kept the team busy and exhausted, but the comradery among the team was high due to the motivating leadership of Coach Falla and the three senior Captains: Krista Fager, Karen Haase, and Mary Knapp.  During this time the adjustment to collegiate life was made much smoother by the support and friendship provided by the team.
 
During her tenure at Cedar Crest, Cheryl was successful both on and off the field.  She was involved in the Beta Beta Beta National biological honor society, was voted Who’s Who Among America’s College and University students, and was on the Dean’s list. Athletics at Cedar Crest truly empowers the student-athlete to succeed athletically as well as academically.
 
Following her graduation from Cedar Crest, Cheryl attended graduate school at the University of Florida’s College of Health and Human Performance, earning a Master’s Degree in Exercise and Sport Sciences with a concentration in Clinical Exercise Physiology.  She worked in a clinical setting before being commissioned in the United States Navy in 2006. As a Naval Aerospace Physiologist, Cheryl’s work centers around the physiological threats associated with the flight environment of aviators and aircrew in military aircraft.  Cheryl has over 600 hours of flight time in various type/model/series of military aircraft.  She will promote to the rank of Commander on October 1, 2019.