Alumni and Friends Making an Impact

By Jacob Mantle ’23

Great coaching and scholarships brought Casey Bogues ’23 to the University of Dayton.

“Coach Kev[in Gilhuly] knows what he’s talking about with javelin,” Bogues said. “With Coach Kev, everything is science-based. There’s a reason for why we do everything.”

Her decision to attend UD was a game-changer. Bogues has benefited from UD’s academic and athletic opportunities that she knows she wouldn’t have had at the other schools that recruited her in high school.

She is pursuing her master’s in education and literacy while also aiming to be the first UD athlete to qualify for a second U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track & Field in their career.

“My goal is always to be better than I was the day before. That’s what I strive to do every day,” the New Jersey native shared.

Bogues has already built a legacy for herself on the field after only two seasons, due to COVID-19 and a medical redshirt, because of her teammates’ and coaches’ support.

“The community has become like family for me,” Bogues said. “The people here have been very welcoming and supportive. They’ve worked with me to help me achieve my dreams and goals.”

Some accolades include holding the javelin school record, being named to all-conference teams, setting meet records, winning A-10 championships and competing at the NCAA championships.

Off the field, the UD record-holder doesn’t stop pushing herself. She substitute teaches from 8 a.m. to noon before going to practice from 1 to 4 p.m. Practice is followed by weightlifting. All this is before her class which lasts until 7:10 p.m. Only then does she eat dinner, work at her second job, or work on homework before going to bed to start the routine over. 

“I’ve fine-tuned planning my schedule and prioritizing what’s important,” Bogues said.

Because of her academic and athletic achievements, Bogues was Dayton’s NCAA Women of the Year nominee. One of the most prestigious awards in the NCAA, the award honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

“It was just one of those things you don’t think can happen to you because there are so many athletes,” the nominee said. “It was an honor to represent such a strong group of female athletes because we have some great athletes at Dayton.”

Bogues credits part of her success at UD to scholarship. She is the Thaler Family Endowed Athletic Scholarship recipient.

“Having this scholarship made it so that my athletic and academic dreams have come true here at Dayton,” Bogues said.

After UD, she dreams of becoming a sixth-grade language arts teacher. But for now, the star athlete aims to return to the NCAA championships.

“This year, it’s game time,” Bogues said.