Lake-Sumter State College Dedicates Mike Matulia Fields

By Kevin Yurasek, LSSC Spokesperson

LEESBURG, Fla. – Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) and the LSSC Foundation celebrated the dedication of its baseball and softball complex, now named the Mike Matulia Fields at J. Carlisle Rogers Stadium, on Wednesday. The event also marked the unveiling of state-of-the-art digital scoreboards, a significant upgrade for the college's athletic facilities.

The program enhancements and the naming of the complex were made possible through generous donations to the LSSC Foundation. The ceremony was a tribute to the community members and supporters who invested in the success of LSSC's student-athletes.

The LSSC Foundation expressed its gratitude to the Rogers Family Foundation, the Matulia Family, Rich & Vicki Billings, Rich & Betsy Billings, the Earl & Sophia Shaw Charitable Trust, Tim & Sharon Morris, and Robert & Valerie Thomas for their significant contributions.

The event paid special tribute to the vision and dedication of Coach Mike Matulia, who re-launched LSSC Athletics 27 years ago with a budget of just $25,000 and built it into the thriving program it is today.

Dr. Laura Byrd, Executive Vice President of LSSC and Executive Director of the LSSC Foundation, highlighted the importance of community investment. "Today's dedication is also a tribute to those who believed in that mission and invested in it," she stated. "Over the years, generous supporters have stepped forward to ensure our student-athletes have the resources they need to succeed. Each of these donors have left a mark that will last for generations."

Tim Morris, a member of the LSSC District Board of Trustees and a Lake County Commissioner, praised Coach Matulia's student-centered philosophy. "Mike, your legacy will be that you did what

was most important in the programs. It wasn't winning and losing. It was the students, and their grades, and how they were doing," Morris remarked. He also thanked the J. Carlisle Rogers Foundation, noting, "They came to plate with our ambitious ask and hit a home run."

"It's a profound honor to be here today to witness the seeds planted by our past leadership come to fruition," said LSSC President John Temple. "Coach Matulia's impact extends far beyond the athletic fields; he taught his students invaluable life skills in leadership and resilience that shaped who they are today. We are deeply thankful for his impact and the legacy he has built, and we are committed to carrying it forward."

Dr. Robert Westrick, the former president of Lake-Sumter Community College who hired Matulia in 1998, recalled the coach's ambitious start. "He had to come up with a plan to start this program with just a $25,000 budget. When I look at these facilities today, this exceeds any expectations we might have had all those years ago," Dr. Westrick said. "Coach Mike is so deserving of this recognition."

Head Baseball Coach Rich Billings, a program alumnus and former player under Coach Matulia, spoke of his mentor's profound influence. "His legacy is ingrained in every fiber of Lake-Sumter State College Athletics because of the things he did for his student-athletes. I know because I was one of them," said Coach Billings. "He challenged us every day both in the classroom and on the field. Thank you for teaching us, thank you for loving us, for believing in us, and for making Lake-Sumter State College a better place."

A humbled Coach Matulia expressed his gratitude, emphasizing the role of his family and supporters. "I'm so humbled by all that's happened today. For me, this was a family affair," he shared. "I'm very thankful and blessed that I had a lot of support for this program and the athletes."

The dedication of Mike Matulia Fields at J. Carlisle Rogers Stadium begins a new era for Lakehawk Athletics, continuing the legacy of leadership and community partnership built by its founding leadership.

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