- RECEPTION HONORS WINTER/SPRING ATHLETES
- WOMEN'S GOLF TEAM SIGNS 1ST RECRUIT
- WAYLAND TO START WOMEN'S GOLF PROGRAM
- FOUR NEW MEMBERS INDUCTED INTO ATHLETIC HALL OF HONOR
RECEPTION HONORS WINTER/SPRING ATHLETIES
Two highly decorated All-Americans received Wayland Baptist’s highest athletic honor at the 2008 Winter/Spring Athletic Awards Reception held Wednesday evening. Danny Storey, a member of the Pioneer basketball team from Canyon, and Caroline Oladipo, a track and field standout from Waco, were named the Roscoe Snyder Award winners as the university’s top male and female senior athletes.
Pioneer basketball player Lee Berend of Graham and David Purcell, a member of the WBU baseball team from Peoria, Ariz., along with volleyball standout Bethany Lewis received the Scholar Athlete Awards as the male and female athletes classified as juniors or above with the highest grade point averages.
Senior Mario Canales, a three-year letterman on the Pioneer baseball team from Casa Grande, Ariz., is the recipient of the Wallace and Janis Davis Award of the Spirit, given annually to a Wayland student-athlete that exemplifies the spirit, courage and commitment that the Davis's demonstrated to athletics during their tenure at Wayland.
The Bill Hardage Champions of Character Award was presented to Todd Jeffress, a junior baseball player from Plainview, and Don and Christa Smith of Plainview were named as the winners of the Roy McClung Service Award.
Most Valuable Player Awards were presented to Jeff Dagg in golf; Megan Coats in women's basketball; Kirby Dunn and Kimberly Smith in track and field; Jessica Barrera in junior varsity women’s basketball; and Sean Parnell and Jeremy Watson in junior varsity baseball.
Evan Winegarner received the Most Valuable Cheerleader Award.
2008 WBU WINTER/SPRING ATHLETIC AWARDS
Men's Golf
Most Valuable Player: Jeff Dagg, Sr., South Surrey, British Columbia
Most Improved Player: Colby Anderson, Sr., Tucson, Arizona
Newcomer of the Year: Michael Loppnow, Fr., Capetown, South Africa
Women's Basketball
Most Valuable Player: Megan Coats, Fr., Amarillo, TX
Hutcherson Family Award: Katie Benton, Sr., Briscoe, TX
JV Women’s Basketball MVP: Jessica Barrera, Fr., Lubbock, TX
Men's Track & Field
Most Valuable Athlete: Kirby Dunn, So., Bowie, TX
Newcomer of the Year: Caleb McLean, Fr., Ft. Worth, TX
Most Improved: Kirby Dunn, So., Bowie, TX
Women's Track & Field
Most Valuable Athlete: Kimberly Smith, Fr., Jamaica
Newcomer of the Year: Purity Biwott, Fr., Kenya
Most Improved: Erin Britton, Jr., Levelland, TX
Cheerleaders
Most Valuable: Evan Winegarner, Sr., Darrouzett, TX
Spirit Award: Whitney Hall, Jr., Amarillo, TX
Most Improved: Shalisa Ladd, Sr., Muleshoe, TX
Baseball
Varsity Awards: TBA
J.V. Gold Team Most Valuable Player: Sean Parnell, Jr., Pasadena, TX
J.V. Gold Team Coaches Award: Aaron Glover, Fr., Glen Rose, TX
J.V. Blue Team Most Valuable Player: Jeremy Watson, Fr., Borger, TX
J.V. Blue Team Coaches Award: Jarrod Lindsey, Jr., Grady, NM
Award of Merit (Junior standing - 3.5 GPA or higher)
Baseball: Joe Elowitz, Jr., Sugarland, TX; John Goble, Jr., Keller, TX; Sean Parnell, Jr., Pasadena, TX;
David Purcell, Sr., Peoria, AZ
Track and Field: Kristen Raines, Sr., Mansfield, TX
Men’s Basketball: Michal Polanowski, Sr., Konin, Poland; Lee Berend, Jr., Graham, TX
Volleyball: Hailey Clark, Jr., Lubbock, TX; Bethany Lewis, Jr., Borger, TX
Soccer: Amber Hamilton, Jr., Meridian, TX
Roscoe Snyder Award
Male: Danny Storey, Sr., Canyon, TX
Female: Caroline Oladipo, Sr., Waco, TX
Scholar Athletes
Male: Lee Berend, Jr., Graham, TX; David Purcell, Sr., Peoria, AZ
Female: Bethany Lewis, Jr., Borger, TX
Wallace & Janis Davis Award of the Spirit
Mario Canales, Sr., Casa Grande, AZ
Bill Hardage Champions of Character Award
Todd Jeffress, Jr., Plainview, TX
Roy McClung Service Award
Don and Christa Smith
WOMEN'S GOLF TEAM SIGNS 1ST RECRUIT
Jordan Brumley, a senior member of the Plainview High School girl’s golf team, recently signed a letter of intent to become the first member of Wayland Baptist University’s new women’s golf program. Sister of current Pioneer men’s golfer and All-American J.J. Brumley, Brumley is a two-time 1st team All-District honoree for the Lady Dogs.
“We are very excited to have Jordan join our team,” said Tom Harp, head coach of the WBU golf programs. “Her skill level is already high, and her potential to play at the collegiate level is great. Over the next four years she has the ability to become an accomplished college player.
“This is a great place for her to be, and she is a great person for us to have. We couldn’t ask for a better person in which to start up our program. It will also be a pleasure to have her parents, Donnie and Diana, remain a part of Pioneer golf for four more years.”
Brumley helped lead the PHS girl’s team to a 2008 District Championship with her second place individual finish. A year ago, she finished fourth at district, was a 2006-07 2nd team All-Region selection after coming in 8th in regional competition, and was honored with the Top Dog Award in Girl’s Golf at the PHS Sports Banquet.
As a sophomore, Brumley earned 2nd team All-District honors, finishing sixth during district competition, and was an honorable mention All-Region selection.
Off the course, Brumley is an Honor Roll student who is ranked 15th in her class. She was the Business Woman of the Month in January of this year, and spent to years as a PHS Cheerleader.
WAYLAND TO START WOMEN'S GOLF PROGRAM
The Wayland Baptist University Board of Trustees of Wayland Baptist University recently approved a proposal to initiate women's golf as an intercollegiate athletic program beginning with the 2008-09 school year.
According to WBU Director of Athletics, Dr. Greg Feris, the development of a women’s golf program has been a long-term goal of the Wayland athletic department.
“We believe that it is both feasible and productive for the university to field a women’s golf team at this time, and are pleased that the administration has provided the support to take this initial step. With the addition of golf, our women’s intercollegiate offerings will now be at seven: volleyball, cross country, soccer, basketball, indoor track, outdoor track, and golf.”
Coach Tom Harp is head of the WBU golf program and Mikel Martinson, a two-time NAIA All-American at Wayland, is his assistant. Under Harp’s leadership, the Pioneer men have made five straight NAIA Championship appearances, finishing sixth in 2006 and second last year, and have captured ten tournament titles since 2002. The 2008 Pioneer men are ranked ninth in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Feris says that the new team will join seven other women’s golf programs in the very competitive Sooner Athletic Conference. Oklahoma City University, the three-time NAIA National Champion, is once again ranked number one this year. Other top 25 teams are #5 Lubbock Christian University, which is in its fourth year of existence, and #11 Southern Nazarene University.
“The SAC traditionally sees three or four of our teams ranked in the NAIA top ten. Our hope is to be competitive from day one, but we are fully aware that it will take time to raise the program to the status of our men's team. Coach Harp and Coach Martinson are currently recruiting the best talent available.”
FOUR NEW MEMBERS INDUCTED INTO ATHLETIC HALL OF HONOR
Two former basketball greats, a former member of the WBU athletic department staff, and a long-time athletic booster have been inducted into the Wayland Baptist University Athletic Hall of Honor.
The Hall of Honor’s Class of 2008, consisting of Kathy Harston, Corey Cornish, Marsha Hutcherson George, and Bobby Hall, were inducted in ceremonies held Saturday, February 23 as a part of WBU’s 2008 Homecoming Weekend festivities.
Also honored was Marsha Porter, a former Flying Queen and long-time girl’s basketball coach at Conroe High School, who will be presented the Harley Redin Coach’s Award.
Kathy Harston was a member of the Flying Queens from 1976-1980. She was a two-time National Scouting Association All-American, a 1978 Kodak All-American, a 1979 Street & Smith Basketball Magazine Preseason All-American, and a member of the Flying Queens 1,000 Point Club where she is currently eighth in scoring with 1,617 career points.
A member of the Pioneer basketball team from 1988-1992, Corey Cornish helped lead the Pioneers to three NAIA tournament appearances. During the 1991-92 season, he established a WBU record for most assists in a season with 215 and was named a Honorable Mention All-American. He is currently #10 in Pioneer career scoring with 1,431 points.
Marsha Hutcherson George, who died last December after a long illness, was a longtime family sponsor, and an avid fan and booster of the Flying Queens. Up until health concerns forced her to stop six years ago, she attended every home basketball game and coordinated the Queen’s Court Hospitality Room.
Dr. Bobby Hall served as Sports Information Director at Wayland Baptist for almost a decade during the mid-to-late 80’s and early 90’s, earning national recognition for both himself and the university. He served as president of the NAIA Sports Information Directors Association during 1990-91, and was the 1991 Ike Pearson Award Winner, given annually to a member of the NAIA-SIDA to honor outstanding contributions to the profession.
"The university is indeed fortunate to have the opportunity to recognize these four quality individuals during our 16th Hall of Honor induction,” said Dr. Greg Feris, WBU Director of Athletics. Their diverse backgrounds and special talents are symbols of what it means to be members of the Wayland Athletic Hall of Honor."
Since it was established in 1991, 50 former WBU athletes, coaches and boosters have been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Honor.
The Harley Redin Coach’s Award is presented to a Wayland alumnus who has demonstrated outstanding success as a head coach at the university or public/private school level, as well as outstanding contributions to community, school and church. The fifth recipient of the award, Marsha Porter was a member of the Flying Queens from 1966 to 1968. She began coaching at Conroe High School after her graduation from Wayland in 1969, and retired 33 years later in 2002. In 2004, she was inducted into the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame with a career record of 762-229.
- See Also:
- News & Events:
Baseball
SAC Tournament
April 29-May 3
Wilder Field
Wed, Apr. 30
Pioneers vs.
OK City, 7 pm
Baseball
Pioneers 12,
SNU 1
