Athletics & Recreation
Strive for Competitive Greatness as a River Hawk
On the field, around the track, in the pool and beyond, we champion the pursuit of excellence. With a commitment to teamwork, discipline and growth, our programs empower student-athletes to reach their full potential.
Susquehanna University is home to 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports that represent the River Hawk name with pride, with nearly a third of our students participating on these teams. With multiple national and conference championships, as well as All-American and all-conference honors under their wings, our student-athletes play to win.
The student-athlete journey places focus on personal development, well-being and competitive greatness both in the game and in the classroom. Susquehanna’s student-athletes hold a cumulative GPA surpassing 3.4, contributing to Susquehanna’s record of producing 32 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.
SUsquehanna By the Numbers
More Than Metrics
Susquehanna Athletics
Play to Win
Susquehanna Athletic Fields
Football Final Four
Buzzer Beater
The Hawk’s Nest
GO RIVER HAWKS!
Whether you follow football, field hockey, basketball or swimming/diving, visit the official Susquehanna River Hawks website for up-to-date schedules, scores and news.
Staying active on Campus & Beyond
Outdoor Recreation
Balance your study time with fresh air and outdoor activities! We provide ample opportunities to enjoy our majestic campus and the surrounding area.
Where Passion Meets Purpose
Straight from the Nest
“Being a student at Susquehanna has been the best four years of my life. As a student-athlete, I’ve grown so much both on the field and in the classroom. I’m grateful for my time here, and I’m excited to see where life takes me.”
— Sophia Pasquariello ’25
“Being able to balance being a student and an athlete here at Susquehanna is really a unique experience. I get to learn a lot about time management and I love my sport. It’s a great stress reliever to get to run around in town, think about my assignments and get that competitive adrenaline. My team is my family and it’s really a great way to balance out my academics.”
— Katrina Hook ’26
“Being on the football team is just like being a big family. I can lean on any of my teammates for anything I need. It’s a great way to network too. All of us have different majors, so having those connections is also big.”
— Brian Layton ’26
“As a student athlete with a major in advertising in public relations and a double minor in professional sales and marketing, I’m busy a lot of the time. But, for me, being active has helped me so much with my time management.”
— Olivia Haines ’25
“Being a student-athlete is great because of how flexible the professors and different departments are when it comes to practices, games and lift times. They are very flexible and understand that usually your athletics are just as important as being a student. Although ‘student’ does come first in ‘student athlete,’ they are very supportive of putting your time into something other than academics. I’ve had great experiences with professors coming to games and supporting the Susquehanna softball team. And, I’ve seen them at other athletic events as well.”
— Lexi Palumbo ’25
“Being a student-athlete at Susquehanna has given me countless relationships and opportunities that will last a lifetime. It has allowed me to grow my leadership, teamwork, time management and advocacy skills, which I believe will help me be a more well-rounded individual in my future career.”
— Rebecca Ripans ’25
“There are a lot of activities on campus that make it feel like home and feel special for me. I’m on the women’s softball and volleyball teams. Susquehanna has done a really good job helping student-athletes balance both their academics and their athletics. We don’t feel like we have to choose between either one, and the staff are really supportive.”
— Kaitlyn Dugery ’26
“Susquehanna’s well-established and high-quality academics, plus the AACSB-accredited Sigmund Weis School of Business, helped make my decision a no-brainer. I also knew I wanted to continue my lacrosse career in college, and Susquehanna and Coach Moan gave me that opportunity.”
— Connor Aitken ’25
“As a River Hawk student-athlete, my coaches and teammates are always pushing me to get better and my professors are supportive and flexible. I’ve grown significantly as both a person and a runner. I even own a few school records!”
— Kallan Carter ’23
Community at Susquehanna
River Hawk Athletics
Susquehanna Intramurals
Tap into your inner athlete
From racquetball to soccer to basketball and volleyball, Intramural and Recreational Sports offers students and staff a fun, social environment to enjoy friendly competition, ease stress and get some exercise.
Susquehanna’s Mascot
Meet Benny
Susquehanna adopted the nickname River Hawks in 2016. The name draws inspiration from the striking bird of prey often seen gliding above rivers and thriving in dynamic environments. Like our students, river hawks are focused, resilient and determined.
Our beloved mascot, Benny, proudly takes his name from Susquehanna’s founding president, Benjamin Kurtz. With unwavering school spirit, Benny is a regular at campus events and on the sidelines — cheering on the River Hawks with pride!
