Regensburg, Beckford perform in final IC Unbound show of college
On the last Sunday of every semester at Ithaca College, lines extend through the entire second floor of Campus Center. Per usual, this semester’s IC Unbound dance show, known as Rogue, drew massive crowds when it took place at Emerson Suites on December 7th.
IC Unbound is a student organization where students perform choreographed dances to songs of their choice. They rehearse throughout the semester, leading up to the semesterly showcase right before finals week. The level of commitment is up to the dancer, but each dance they choose to participate in rehearses for one hour each week.
While the show is a semesterly tradition for many, it was a show of firsts and lasts for some of the dancers involved.
For some Ithaca seniors, such as Leezum Regensburg and Viviana Beckford, it was their last show with the organization.
“I think it’s hard for me to recognize that it’s my last show, because I’ve been in it for such a long time,” Regensburg said.
Both Leezum and Viviana have been dancing with IC Unbound since their freshman year. Leezum will be going to Los Angeles in the spring, and Viviana will be graduating early, meaning neither will be able to participate in the spring semester show this coming May. Dance is a passion for them both, and they will miss the chance to perform choreographed dances here at IC and the community that IC Unbound fosters.
“[The weekly] rehearsals are like the seeds, and as time goes on, you can grow those relationships you have with people,” Beckford said.
This show also provided a first for Leezum. Her mother, who had never had the chance to see her perform, made the trip from New York City to see her final IC Unbound show. In this show, Leezum not only danced, but also choreographed a dance, making it an extra special one for her mother to be able to see/
As per Unbound tradition, both Leezum and Viviana received a sendoff on stage at the end of the show. The two of them will be missed by their peers in the organization, as both have made many friends through Unbound.
Overall, IC Unbound provides an entertaining event for many on campus. But for the dancers involved from August to December, it can be so much more than that, especially those that will not be back in January to do it all over again.
McSloy, Zenker lead way in new era for Ithaca College men's basketball
In the offseason, Ithaca men’s basketball brought in a player and coach duo from Drew University, hiring Mike McSloy as the team’s new head coach and bringing in junior forward Matthew Zenker through the transfer portal.
McSloy was hired after the departure of Waleed Farid for nationally-renowned Division III basketball program New York University after four seasons. Farid led the Bombers to a 19-10 finish and a run to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 last season before they lost to WPI in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was Farid’s first time leading the Bombers to the tourney, but Ithaca’s 14th NCAA Tournament appearance in team history.
McSloy spent three seasons as the head coach at Drew University, leading them to a 24-4 record and the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024-25. On last year’s Drew squad, Zenker played in 24 games, starting 10. He was the team’s fourth leading scorer with 11.5 points per game.
For Coach McSloy, having Zenker by his side has made the transition to a new school easier. Zenker understands the style of play that McSloy wants to establish at Ithaca College and has helped other players get up to speed with that play style, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Joining his old coach at a new school has also made the transition smoother for Zenker, and it has allowed him to establish himself as a leader on the team. He joins a Bombers team that returned three of their 2024-25 starters, junior guards Evan Cabral and Jaylon O’Neal, and sophomore forward Chris Leysath.
With McSloy leading the way and Zenker playing for him at a new school, the Bombers look to win their second straight Liberty League title and qualify for their second straight NCAA tournament. They hope bringing in a player and coach who just contributed together to an NCAA tournament appearance elsewhere in Division III will help soften the blow of the departures of Farid and last year’s lead scorer Logan Wendell. While the team may take time to get back to where they were a year ago, especially given a tough non-conference schedule, they aim to get better every single day and work their way back to that point.