Sports Recap

 

 

A.J. Wentland '17
Football


Linebacker A.J. Wentland ’17 was named the GLVC Defensive Player of the Year. The Cliff Harris Award nominee was also a D2CCA second-team All-American and first-team All-Super Region 4 honoree. He finished the 2016 season with a conference leading 145 stops and 11 tackles for loss. He shattered the McKendree career mark with 421 stops and helped lead the team to an 8–3 overall record.

 

 

Sydnee Carroll


Women’s Soccer


Sophomore forward Sydnee Carroll was named the GLVC Offensive Player of the Year. She was also a National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s All-American second-team and All-Midwest Region first-team honoree, and D2CCA All-Midwest Region honorable mention team honoree. She had a league-best 18 goals and helped the team capture the 2016 GLVC Championship title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

 

 

Arela Williams


Women’s Volleyball


Junior outside hitter Arela Williams was named the 2016 GLVC Fall Scholar-Athlete of the year. She was an American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II All-American honorable mention team and All-Midwest Region first-team honoree, and D2CCA All-Midwest Region second-team honoree. She helped lead the team to a 23–10 overall record and a runner-up finish at the GLVC Conference Championship.

 

 


Power Lifting


The men’s and women’s power lifting teams placed seven athletes in the top 15 at the Collegiate Nationals in San Antonio, Texas. Junior Lindsey Raker led the women’s squad, finishing third in the 72kg weight class. Freshman Emmit Metzger capped the men’s efforts, finishing second in the 59kg weight class with a total of 1063lbs. Junior Kyle Franke (120kg), and freshmen Remington Paris (66kg), Bryce Paszkiewicz (66kg), Dakota Meyers (120+kg) and Oliva Toth (84kg) finished in the top 15 in their respective weight classes.

 

 


Men’s Bowling


Defending their national title from 2016, the men’s bowling team swept their way into the finals of the USBC Men’s Intercollegiate Championship before dropping a close best-of-five Baker match to Webber International University. Three bowlers earned individual national accomplishments this season. Junior Greg Young was named to the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association All-America first-team. Armando Godoy ’17 qualified for the USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships. Freshman Bryan Hahlen made Junior Team USA in January.

 

 


Water Polo


In its inaugural season, the men’s water polo team placed eighth overall in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) and qualified for the CWPA National Collegiate Club Championships.

Five players on the men’s and women’s teams earned All-CWPA honors. Freshman attacker Brianna Mullalley was named to the All-CWPA first-team. Freshmen attackers Michael Krause, Joseph Mahan and Catie Young and freshman utility player Alex Nicholas were named to the All-CWPA second team.

 

 

Demontez McCray


Track & Field


Sophomore Demontez McCray was named the GLVC Indoor & GLVC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. The All-American finished first in the 200-meter at the 2017 GLVC Indoor Championships and as runner-up at the 2017 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, breaking his own personal record with a time of 21.18 seconds. At the GLVC Outdoor Championships, he took home first place in the 100-meter dash and followed with a GLVC record breaking time of 21.72 seconds in the 200-meter. He was also a member of the top finishing 4x100-meter relay team with Donovan Friscia ’17, senior Kevin Witcik and sophomore Tyree Allen, and the 4x400-meter relay team with Tyree, and sophomores Tyler Johnson and Andrew Gardewine.

The men’s team won the 2017 GLVC Outdoor Championship title in May. In addition to the first-place finishes by Demontez and the relay teams, sophomore Monte Wolke finished first in the pole vault. At the 2017 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, Demontez finished seventh in the 100-meter, sixth in the 200-meter dash, and fifth in the 4x100-meter relay, along with Donovan, Kevin and Tyree. In addition, teammate Ryan Pearce ’17 competed in the discus throw

The women’s team was led by sophomore Quincy McSweeney during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. The All-American finished second in the 800-meter at the GLVC Indoor Championships, eighth in the 800-meter at the NCAA Indoor Championships, first in the 1500-meter at the GLVC Outdoor Championships, and fifth in the 800-meter at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Along with Quincy’s efforts, Irma Maciukaite ’17 finished first in the 400-meter hurdles at the GLVC Outdoor Championships and competed in the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Junior Kevin Witcik won the Elite 90 Award at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The biology major carries a cumulative 3.993 grade-point average, the highest among all of the athletes that competed at nationals.

 

 

Andrew Best


Hockey


Sophomore goalie Andrew Best was named the Mid America D2 Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Goalie of the Year. The first-team All-Conference player led the league with a .935 save percentage and 2.07 goals against average. He helped the Bearcats capture the 2017 MACHA Championship title and led them to a runner-up finish at the ACHA Central Region Championships in February. Andrew also represented MACHA at the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II All-Star Challenge, along with Ryan Sizer ’17 and Steve Csanyi ’17, sophomore Ty Watt, and freshmen Levi Armstrong and Dominic Naas.

 

 


Swimming & Diving


Six men’s swimmers qualified for the NCAA II Swimming and Diving Nationals in March. Sophomore Daniel Buijs led the team with a sixth place finish in the 200-yard backstroke and earned All-American honors. Freshman Matija Pucarevic finished in first place in the “B” finals of the 100-yard butterfly and earned All-American honorable mention honors, along with the 400-yard and 800-yard freestyle relay teams. The freestyle relay teams included Daniel, Matija, and freshmen Luca Simonetti (400- and 800-yard), Peyton Shafto (400-yard) and Cole Morgan (800-yard). Captain Josh Lamb ’17 joined Matija, Daniel and Luca on the 200-yard and 400-yard medley relay teams.

The women’s swimming & diving team was honored as a College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America team. In the fall semester, the team posted a combined grade point average of 3.66, tied for the third highest GPA in NCAA Division II.

 

 

Nick Foster


Wrestling


Freshman Nick Foster was selected as the GLVC Freshman Men’s Wrestler of the Year. He collected six falls, one tech fall, five major decisions, and 14 decisions to post a 26–12 overall record. He finished in third place at 165-pounds at the NCAA Central Super Regionals in February and eighth place at the NCAA Division II National Championships in March. The All-American was a key contributor to the men’s fifth place team finish at nationals, along with Darren Wynn ’17, juniors Ryan Strope and NaQuan Hardy, and sophomores Brock Wingbermuehle and Isaiah Kemper. Isaiah was also named to the NWCA All-Academic second-team with a 3.64 GPA in the fall semester.

Junior Megan Black won the 55kg division title at the 2017 USA Wrestling University Women’s Nationals Tournament in March. She beat senior teammate Gabby Weyhrich to win the crown. Four other teammates were named All-Americans at, at Nationals, including senior Tayler Resuriz, junior Alexis Porter, sophomore Alexa Glauda, and freshman Andrea Sennett.

In February, Megan also finished as runner-up at 130-pounds at the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association National Championships. The team finished in sixth place overall, with five wrestlers earning All-American honors, including Megan, Alexa, juniors Brandy Lowe and Jasmine Bailey, and freshman Janelle Fuamatu.

 

 


Men’s Golf


Junior golfer Keenai Sampson made program history by winning the NCAA Division II Midwest/Central Regional in men’s golf with a 199 (17-under par) finish. The win earned him a berth to the 2017 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championships, where he finished tied for 20th place with a 216 (+6 over par) finish.

 

 


Softball


Infielder Rachel Hastings ’17 was named to the 2017 Softball Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association All-Midwest Region Second-Team. She led the Bearcats with nine home runs, 47 RBI’s and a .373 batting average.

 

 

Victoria Lelo '17


Lacrosse


Midfielder Victoria Lelo ’17 was named the GLIAC Midfielder of the Year and to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association All-American second-team and All-Region first-team. She was among the nation’s top 10 goal scorers, with 67 goals this season. In addition to point production, Victoria tallied 124 draw controls, 17 assists, 43 ground balls and 26 caused turnovers.

Goalkeeper Amy Porta ’17 was selected as the GLIAC Goalkeeper of the Year. She finished the season with the highest save percentage in the conference, at 48.3 percent. Amy started all 18 games between the pipes for the Bearcats, securing 13 wins, 152 saves, and 44 groundballs.

Victoria and Amy helped lead the women’s lacrosse team to its first GLIAC Tournament Championship title. The Bearcats posted a 12–8 victory over Grand Valley State University to claim the crown.

 

 


Bass Fishing


For the second straight year, the bass fishing program finished in the top 5 of the final Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) School of the Year standings. The Bearcats placed fifth overall out of 211 colleges and universities. The program competed in 15 tournaments and registered 26 top-10 finishes. The season was highlighted by five tournament victories, including a winning effort by senior J.T. Russell and sophomore Jacob Louis at the Bassmaster Midwest Conference Regional.

To go along with its national top-five standing for 2016-17, McKendree is already off to a strong start for the upcoming 2017-18 campaign. The Bearcats have already qualified three teams to fish in the 2018 FLW National Championship, as well as two teams to compete in this summer's Bassmaster National Championship.

 

 


Coaching News


Melissa Gyllenborg was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Lacrosse Coach of the Year. She guided McKendree to its first-ever GLIAC Tournament crown. Melissa mentored an offensive unit that is ninth in the nation in  scoring offense at 16.25 goals per game.

Michael Mendez ’10 was named the GLVC Outdoor Men’s Track and Field Coach of the Year. In his five seasons as head coach, he has coached 43 GLVC Champions, six GLVC Athletes of the Year and one GLVC Championship Team.

Colleen Lischwe was selected as the CWPA Midwest Division Women’s Water Polo Coach of the Year. She took over the reins as interim head coach of the women’s water polo team and led the Bearcats to a second place finish in its first Midwest Division Championship appearance.

Shannon O’Keefe was named the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Division II/III and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Women’s Bowling Coach of the Year. She led the Bearcats to its first NCAA and Intercollegiate Team Championship (ITC) National Championship titles.

Jim Kisgen was named Super Region 3 Men’s Wrestling Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. During his 14-year tenure at McKendree, he has coached nine National Champions, seven runnersup, and seven third-place finishers. Since transitioning to the NCAA, he has led the Bearcats to four top 10 finishes at the NCAA National Championships.

 

 


Home Openers


9/2/17 – Men’s Soccer vs. Fort Hays State

9/3/17 –Women’s Soccer vs. Kentucky Wesleyan College

9/9/17 – Football vs. Kentucky State University

9/14/17 – Women’s Volleyball vs. University of Indianapolis

For more game updates, visit McKBearcats.com.