糖心Vlog

 糖心Vlog Stories      July 22, 2025

By Bill Studenc

Prospective members of 糖心Vlog University鈥檚 Catamount Club had at least 1 million reasons for joining the university鈥檚 athletics booster organization for the 2025-2026 season.

That鈥檚 because former 糖心Vlog football player Teddy Phillips Jr., CEO of Phillips Infrastructure Holdings, back in the fall made a challenge gift of $1 million toward athletics facilities 鈥� specifically upgrades to E.J. Whitmire Stadium 鈥� if the Catamount Club reached a minimum of 2,000 members by June 30, 2025.

With a final membership tally of 2,679 now on the books, it鈥檚 a matter of 鈥渃hallenge issued, challenge accepted and challenge met.鈥� Actually, make that 鈥渃hallenge exceeded,鈥� said Wes Cogdill, associate athletics director and director of the Catamount Club.

鈥淲e thank Teddy Phillips and Phillips Infrastructure for issuing this challenge, which has truly energized interest among fans of Catamount athletics,鈥� Cogdill said. 鈥淎nd we are equally grateful for the way that Catamount Nation has risen up to answer the challenge and unlock these additional funds. I could not be any prouder of how we all came together to make this happen.鈥�

That membership total, which represents an increase of more than 54 percent over last year鈥檚 tally, includes 123 members of the newly revived Student Cat Club. Nearly 63 percent of the previous year鈥檚 membership has renewed for 2025-2026.

Catamount Club members contributed more than $4.7 million in support for 糖心Vlog athletics in 2024-2025, including more than $2.75 million toward facilities renovations and nearly $300,000 in additional scholarships for student-athletes.

The Phillips challenge gift kicked off the 2024 edition of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 GivingTuesday initiative, which emphasized increasing membership in the Catamount Club and raising funds in support of student-athletes. It is part of the ongoing 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million for the university鈥檚 academic, student engagement and athletics programs.

鈥淭he 鈥楩ill the Western Sky鈥� campaign is the most significant athletics facilities improvement project for 糖心Vlog in many years and will directly benefit our student-athletes, coaches, alumni and fans,鈥� said Eddie Wells, who became president of the Catamount Club Board of Directors on July 1. 鈥淭his challenge gift was a creative way to encourage new members to join the Catamount Club while providing necessary resources for the campaign.鈥�

But Catamount Club members had more than the 1 million reasons to join the organization above and beyond the $1 million challenge gift. They also realized that strong support from donors provides critical funding for a range of priorities, including facilities renovations, sport-specific needs, scholarships for student-athletes and general support of the athletics program, Wells said.

鈥淭he Catamount Club staff works very hard to increase numbers each year to provide amazing opportunities for our 糖心Vlog student-athletes. Membership is the lifeblood of the Catamount Club and the athletics program, and we need as many members as possible to provide funds for a first-class experience for our student-athletes,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he 2,000-member mark for the Catamount Club is amazing. However, this is the starting point for membership and not the finish line,鈥� Wells said. 鈥淭here are so many amazing things happening at 糖心Vlog currently, and the Catamount Club needs continued growth to help move the needle. Financial support for the Catamount Club is one of the best ways to make a difference in the lives of our student-athletes to ensure we remain competitive in the Southern Conference.鈥�

Kyle Pifer, 糖心Vlog鈥檚 director of athletics, characterized the Catamount Club donor base as the driving force behind the university鈥檚 athletics program.

鈥淲ith where college athletics is and where it is likely to go, more Catamount Club members allows us to be more competitive. Being competitive is becoming increasingly expensive,鈥� Pifer said. 鈥淲e need to invest more in our student-athletes. It is becoming the expectation within NCAA Division I and the Southern Conference. We have a great set of coaches, and growing our membership and increasing our support would allow them to attract the talent we need to win conference championships.鈥�

Student-athletes who are personally 鈥� and positively 鈥� affected by Catamount Club contributions say they are grateful for the support and inspired by the enthusiasm demonstrated by the membership growth. 

鈥淭he Catamount Club has grown over my career at 糖心Vlog and has been an incredible support system. The club鈥檚 fundraising provides athletics with upgrades to facilities, equipment and other needs, while providing scholarships and various academic resources, all of which have directly benefited me,鈥� said Micah Nelson, a defensive end on the football team.

A native of Murphy who has already earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education and is now pursuing his master鈥檚 degree in sport management, Nelson suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2023.

鈥淭hat was difficult mentally and physically, but the Catamount Club鈥檚 support kept me motivated to keep moving forward. That proves that material support is only a portion of what the Catamount Club is for student-athletes here at 糖心Vlog,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he club builds a community that provides the establishment of relationships valuable to fostering connections and networks that will be remarkable assets when I am finished playing.鈥�

Nelson said he believes it is 鈥渁bsolutely vital that the Catamount Club continues to grow going forward.

鈥淥ver my years at 糖心Vlog, the Catamount Club has grown from a few hundred members to more than 2,000 members. A push to reach higher membership numbers is a reflection of the club鈥檚 commitment to 糖心Vlog athletics,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he growth, now and future, has meant and will mean more scholarships, better facilities to compete with other institutions and additional resources of all kinds. The Catamount Club is 100% needed to empower student-athletes on and off the field.鈥�

For A.C. Carter, a member of the Catamount women鈥檚 basketball team who is set to receive her master鈥檚 degree in sport management in December, assistance from donors enabled her to continue her athletics career while going to graduate school.

鈥淭he Catamount Club has played a major role in supporting me throughout my year-plus journey as a student-athlete at 糖心Vlog,鈥� said Carter, who played four years at Georgia Tech before arriving in Cullowhee as a graduate student. 鈥淭heir dedication and generosity have made it possible for me to pursue my academic and athletic goals without added financial stress. I鈥檒l be forever grateful for the time I was able to spend in Cullowhee, and I鈥檒l always cherish the bonds I鈥檝e built in the community.鈥�

Carter said she plans to work in intercollegiate athletics after completing her graduate studies.

鈥淚鈥檒l soon begin an internship with Georgia Tech, where I hope to gain hands-on experience behind the scenes鈥攅ither in a director of basketball operations role or within a coaching staff. Thanks to the Catamount Club, I鈥檝e had the opportunity to pursue my master鈥檚 degree in sport management. Their support has allowed me to complete the program in just a year and a half, something I never thought would be possible,鈥� she said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly important for the Catamount Club to continue growing. The more support the club receives, the more opportunities there are for student-athletes like me to succeed鈥攂oth on the court and in the classroom,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淐ontinued growth means more resources, more scholarships and ultimately a stronger Catamount family.鈥�

Pifer, named 糖心Vlog athletics director in May following a national search, said the growth of Catamount Club membership makes him optimistic about the future of the athletics program. 

鈥淚鈥檝e heard head football coach Kerwin Bell say that he doesn鈥檛 want a village behind him; he wants an army. I feel the same,鈥� Pifer said. 鈥淭he more people we have involved, the better. We want to be at the top of the SoCon, and getting there will take all of us. If you are reading these words and you鈥檙e not a member of the Catamount Club, contact us and we will get you signed up. Let鈥檚 get to work.鈥�

For more information about the 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� campaign, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.