2013 Cross Country Information Guide

CROSS COUNTRY

CROSS COUNTRY2013

2013 cross country

2013 OHIO DOMINICAN CROSS COUNTRY

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MEDIA SERVICES

The Ohio Dominican University sports information office is available to accommo-date any media requests. Following are some guidelines that should make it easy for media members to cover the Ohio Dominican athletic teams. Any additional ques-tions should be directed to Scott Miles, ODU Sports Information Director.

SpoRtS InfoRMAtIon DIRECtoR

Scott Miles Office: (614) 251-4577 Cell: (216) 310-2472 Fax: (614) 252-2556 e-mail: [email protected]

ASSt SpoRtS InfoRMAtIon DIRECtoR

Ryan Beigle Direct: (614) 253-3482 e-mail: [email protected]

SpoRtS InfoRMAtIon GRADuAtE ASSIStAnt

Sarah Twiggs Direct: (614) 251-4843 e-mail: [email protected]

ADDRESS

Ohio Dominican University Alumni Hall 1216 Sunbury Road Columbus, OH 43219

GEnERAl InfoRMAtIon

Phone: (614) 253-2741 Fax: (614) 252-0776 Toll Free: (800) 955-OHIO E-mail: [email protected] Press Box Phone: (614) 253-4813 Press Box Fax: (614) 253-4833

CREDEntIAlS

Request for credentials should be made on company letterhead and sent to: Scott Miles, 1216 Sunbury Road, Columbus OH 43219, or email to [email protected]. Request should be made at least 48 hours prior to the day of the game. Credentials may be picked up during the week at Athletic Office (Alumni Hall) on the campus of ODU, or prior to the game at Media Will Call, which is located at Panther Stadium. All credentials are intended for working media only and are not transferable.

GAME SERVICES

The sports information staff will be at your service throughout the game. All media will be provided with game program, rosters, press guides and other pertinent information. Computer generated statistics will be available at halftime and at the conclusion of the game. Information provided includes play-by-play, individual and team statistics. A fax machine is available through the sports information office.

pRESS BoX

The press box is located on the west side of (Sunbury Road) the stadium. Members of the media should enter the southwest end of Panther Stadium. The press box will open two hours before the game.

pHonE lInES

Multiple phone lines are available in the press box on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be given a week’s notice. Permission to broadcast and any arrangements regarding reciprocal lines must first be secured from the sports information office.

plAYER IntERVIEWS

All requests for player interviews should be made through the Ohio Dominican sports information department at least 48 hours in advance. Game day interviews are not permitted prior to the game. Post-game interviews will take place after the team has been dismissed from its post game meeting. In general, Coach Benedict and runners will be available approximately 10 minutes after the game. Please contact a member of the sports information office to set-up post game interviews.

pRESS BoX pHonE/fAX/IntERnEt

The press box phone number at Panther Field is (614) 253-4813 and the fax number is (614) 253-4833. The ODU press box is fully functional with multiple internet hook-ups. Wireless connection is NOT available. The hook-ups will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be reserved through the sports information representative prior to the game.

tElEVISIon tRuCKS

Any television crews wishing to do live shots from Panther Stadium should park in the designated parking spots for media. To locate the designated parking area, please contact the sports information office at 614-251-4577.

poSt-GAME pRoCEDuRE

Post game interview requests for coaches and players must be done through the sports information office prior to the game. Requesters will be escorted to a desig-nated interviewing area at the conclusion of the teams postgame meetings.

IntERnEt AnD VIDEo StREAM

PressBox Productions will be the internet home of Panther Athletics. Live streaming audio and streaming video of selected games will be available. Please check the ODU Athletic Website for the broadcast schedule at ohiodominicanpanthers.com.

pARKInG

Parking passes can be mailed or picked up at Athletic Offices (Alumni Hall) on the campus of ODU. The parking passes should be displayed on the front windshield of your vehicle when entering the campus of ODU. Media parking is in the Gold Lot, west side of campus on Sunbury Road and St. Dominic Way.

pHotoGRApHERS

Those persons requesting photo credentials will receive a field pass at the ticket win-dow located in the southwest corner of Panther Field. The field pass must be visible at all times and is good for access to field level and the Press Box.

ohio dominican cross country

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OHIODOMINICANPANTHERS.COM

SCott MIlES SpoRtS InfoRMAtIon DIRECtoR

Scott Miles is entering his fourth year as the sports information director at Ohio Dominican University.

Miles, a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), oversees the media relations and publicity of the Ohio Dominican athletic department. He helped develop and launch www.ohiodominicanpanthers.com in December, 2010 and also started and co-hosted the weekly “Panther Spotlight” coaches shows. Miles is also a member of the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-American Committee.

Miles graduated from nearby Capital University in December, 2008, with a degree in English-Professional Writing and worked as a student assistant in the sports informa-tion office, running the department on an interim basis in the summer of 2008.

The Solon, Ohio native interned with the Ohio High School Athletic Association from 2008-09 and spent a year as the athletic media relations intern with the University of Toledo, serving as the primary media contact for seven varsity teams while assist-ing with coverage of the football, men’s and women’s basketball, soccer and baseball teams.

Outside of his work in sports information, Miles spent two summers as an intern with the Lake County Captains, a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, and called baseball games for the Delaware Cows of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. He also announced football, volleyball, basketball and baseball games for Capital and was the sports editor of the campus newspaper.

RYAn BEIGlE ASSIStAnt SpoRtS InfoRMAtIon DIRECtoR

Ryan Beigle enters his eighth season as the head men’s and women’s tennis coach and assistant sports information director at Ohio Dominican University. In his seven seasons at the helm, Beigle has guided the women’s program to an 86-65 overall record and a 70-74 mark on the men’s side.

In their third season as an NCAA Division II institution, Beigle led the women to a 7-7 mark in the GLIAC, guiding the Panthers to their second consecutive appearance in the GLIAC Tournament.

Beigle guided the women to back-to-back NAIA National Tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009, winning the AMC titles in those years. During his tenure, he has coached two NAIA All-Americans, the GLIAC Freshman of the Year, the Wilson/ITA Region III Senior Athlete of the Year, as well as earned two AMC Coach of the Year awards and the 2009 Wilson/ITA Region III Coach of the Year.

On the men’s side, Beigle guided the men to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013 after a strong GLIAC Tournament run. The men finished 13-10 overall and 7-4 in conference play, advancing to the semifinals of tournament play in just their second year of postseason eligibility.

Beigle led the men’s team to their first AMC Tournament title and the program’s first NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2009. In their second season at the NCAA Division II level, Beigle guided the Black and Gold to their first GLIAC Tournament as the #5 seed. He has help produce two NAIA All-Americans, the GLIAC Freshman of the Year, the ITA Midwest Region Rookie of the Year, as well as earned the AMC Coach of the Year award in 2009.

Prior to joining the Panthers staff, Beigle spent the 2005-06 seasons as the head women’s tennis coach at his alma mater. During his two seasons at Bethel, he led the Pilots to a 30-17 overall record and was named the 2006 NCCAA Coach of the Year, while leading the team to a NCCAA National Title.

A 2002 graduate of Bethel College, Beigle received his degree in Education. As a member of the Pilots men’s tennis from 1996 to 2000, Beigle helped lead the Pilots to back-to-back NCCAA National Championships his final two seasons.

Along with his various coaching duties, Beigle also plays an integral role in the athletic department assisting in the sports information office.

Beigle and his wife Marji reside in Blacklick.

SARAH tWIGGS, SpoRtS InfoRMAtIon GRADuAtE ASSIStAnt

Sarah Twiggs is entering her second year in the Ohio Dominican Sports Information Department as the Graduate Assistant.

Twiggs graduated from Mount Union College in August of 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management and a Business minor. As an undergrad, Twiggs interned with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the spring and summer of 2009, and also interned with the Visalia Rawhide, class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, AAA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

Enrolled in the ODU graduate program, Twiggs is currently working towards a Master of Business Administration.

sports information staff

2013 cross country


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2013 season previewDepth a Key Role for Cross Country Squads

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Having lost just one senior to graduation on each of the men’s and women’s rosters; Ohio Dominican’s cross country teams enter the 2013 season with plenty of depth and experience on both sides.

Like last year, the men’s side returns just one senior, as 10 of the 16 runners are re-turning sophomores and juniors. Three freshmen complete the roster for ODU this fall. On the women’s side, four of the 18 runners are seniors.

With the amount of depth and experience returning to this year’s roster, ODU will look to improve on their 2012 campaign, where the men placed 15th and the women 14th at the GLIAC Championships.

“We are very excited for this year’s cross country season,” stated head coach Paul Benedict. “We will have our biggest recruiting class and roster to date. With seven freshmen on both the men and women’s side, we hope to raise the bar for Ohio Do-minican cross country.” “With the leadership of our seniors, mixed with the depth of our team, I know we are capable of leaving a mark in the conference this year.”

Highlighting the returners on the men’s side is sophomore Austin Kilgore (Pickerington, Ohio), who was the Panthers top performer at the GLIAC meet. Other top performers for ODU at the GLIAC meet included junior Michael Barber (New Franklin, Ohio), sophomore Connor Callahan (Columbus, Ohio), sophomore Brendan Walburn (Hebron, Ohio) and junior Jason Williams (Powell, Ohio).

Christopher Liebold (Green Springs, Ohio) returns as the lone senior for the men’s team Juniors Ashton Hill (Huber Heights, Ohio), Ethan Miller (Mon-clova, Ohio), Matthew Richardson (Columbus, Ohio), Dominick Smith (Dayton, Ohio) and sophomore Luke Howard (Columbus, Ohio) will return this season to round out the men’s lineup.

“My goal each year is to significantly improve from last year’s performances and I am confident we will have five men under 26 minutes for the 8k” said Benedict. “We are also looking forward to watching Kilgore and Barber improve even more from last season.”

On the women’s side, ODU lost Hali Cassidy to graduation but return most of the squad from last year. Junior Tara Walker (Lewis Center, Ohio) was ODU’s top performer throughout 2012. Walker competed in all six meets for the Panthers and placed in the top five in three of them. She was honored with GLIAC Cross Country Runner of the Week twice last season, the first runner at ODU to earn the award. At the Wilmington Invitational, Walker broke the school record with a time of 18:17.5 and finished fifth out of 340 runners. She placed third at the Ohio Wesleyan Invi-tational, marking it the best finish by any ODU runner since transitioning to NCAA Division II.

“Tara will be fun to watch this season,” stated Benedict. “She was one of our top runners as a sophomore and we can’t wait to see the improvements she will make this year as a junior.”

Seniors Mallory Kitts (Springfield, Ohio), Kelly Litt (Mansfield, Ohio), Michelle McKean (Pataskala, Ohio), and Bethany Molnar (Shreve, Ohio) return as well, and are expected to provide a great deal of leadership and experience.

“I am confident the women’s team will have at least five under 20 minutes for the 5k,” noted Benedict.

Benedict’s final remarks were, “in the past two years, we’ve been able to overcome a lot of challenges as a cross country program as we were still a fairly new team and an infant in the GLIAC. I believe this team is ready for the level of competition we face in the conference, and are willing to not only participate, but to compete!”

The Panthers start their season at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational.

CROSS COUNTRY

2013 Cross Country ScheduleSeptember 7 vs. Ohio Wesleyan Invitational @ Powell, OhioSeptember 14 vs. Ohio University Invitational @ Athens, OhioSeptember 20 vs. All-Catholic Invitational @ South Bend Ind.October 4 vs. All-Ohio Championships @ Cedarville, OhioOctober 18 vs. Wilmington Invitational @ Wilmington OhioOctober 26 vs. GLIAC Championships @ Houghton, Mich.November 9 vs. Midwest Regional Championships @ Kenosha, Wis.

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coaches

HEAD CoACH

Paul Benedict enters his third season as Ohio Dominican’s track and field coach and sixth season as the head men’s and women’s cross country coach. Cross country was added as the Panthers’ 13th and 14th varsity sports in 2006, while the track and field teams began competition in 2011-12.

Benedict took over a very young group of runners at Ohio Do-minican in 2008 and has propelled the cross country program to new heights. He led the Panthers to their best season in school history, as ODU set new team records at the Wilmington Col-lege Invitational. Benedict saw the men’s and women’s individual school records broken and a number of personal best times were set throughout the season.

The cross country teams continued their successful turnaround with another outstanding season in 2009. Benedict led the women’s team to their first meet championship, had their first National Qualifier and was named the Midlands/Independent Conference Coach of the Year.

No stranger to the local talent in the Columbus area, Benedict graduated from Westerville South High School in 2001 and has stayed active in the local running community as an OHSAA and NCAA Cross Country and Track official for 10 years before ac-cepting his current post at ODU.

Benedict received his Bachelor of Arts in Business in 2005 while earning four varsity letters in cross country and track at Musk-ingum College. He has completed the Ironman and qualified to run in the Boston Marathon in April, 2011.

paulbenedict

ASSIStAnt CoACH

Brucebenedict

Bruce Benedict enters his third season with the ODU cross country teams, assisting his son and head coach Paul Benedict in all facets of the program.

Bruce is a long-time OHSAA and USATF official who has worked at high school district, regional and state champion-ship meets in both cross country and track and field. Bruce ran track and field and cross country at Greenon High School and is a graduate of The Ohio State University.

He currently resides in Westerville.

ASSIStAnt CoACH

IngridSimpson

Ingrid Simpson was recently added to the coaching staff for the ODU cross country and track and field teams.

Ingrid, a 1989 graduate of Marshall University, was a four-year letterwinner for the Thundering Herd, and was an all-confer-ence selection in both the cross country and track teams.

Prior to joining the Black and Gold, Simpson coached cross country and track at Olentangy High School, where she contin-ues to be a teacher. While there, she helped guide three cross country teams to the regional meet and one to the state meet. Simpson also coached three all-state athletes in track and field as well as an individual who was a five-time state champion in indoor and outdoor track.

Ingrid currently resides in Lewis Center with her husband and two children.

2013 cross country


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COACHES

JunIoRnEW fRAnKlIn, oHIo/MAnCHEStER

2012: Competed in all six meets for the Panthers… Broke a school record with a time of 26:29.22 at the Wilmington Invitational, finishing 57th out of 380 runners… Fin-ished a season-best 10th at the Otterbein Invitational… Was the team’s second-best finisher at the GLIAC Championships, placing 80th with a time of 26:44.1…Finished in the top 100 in four meets, including two finishes in the top 30.

2011: Placed fourth in Otterbein Duals…Posted the team’s best time of the season at the National Catholic Championships with a mark of 26:45…Finished 69th at the Wilmington Fall Classic with a time of 27:21.27…Led the Panthers at the GLIAC Championships with a 78th place finish and a time of 28:38.69…Finished 126th at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship with a time of 36:10.7.

High School: Three-time all-district honoree in cross country and two-time all-district award winner in track…Three-time all-conference performer in cross country and track…Four-time all-district performer in soccer as well…Four-year Academic Award winner…Also played basketball.

Personal: Son of William and Ellen Barber…Has four siblings: Matthew, Maggie, Molly and Mary.

Michael Barber

2013 men’s profiles

SopHoMoREColuMBuS, oHIo/BISHop HARtlEY

2012: Competed in all six meets this season… Ended the season on a high note, finishing with a time of 27:23.1 at the GLIAC Championships and placing 91st… Had a season-best finish of 33rd at the Otterbein Invitational… Finished in the top 100 in three meets in 2012.

High School: Ran for Julie Gerdeman at Bishop Hartley High School…Named first team All-CCL as both a junior and senior…Regional qualifier in cross country as a junior and senior…Also played baseball and basketball.

Personal: Son of John and Renee Callahan…One sibling, Brooke…Enjoys hanging out with friends, fishing, and listening to music…Chose ODU because he wanted to be closer to home after being in Florida for a year and has had many family members who are ODU alumni.

Connor Callahan

SopHoMoREColuMBuS, oHIo/St. fRAnCIS DESAlES

2012: Competed in all six meets…Recorded his best time at the Wilmington College Fall Classic with a time of 28:19.34…Earned one top-50 finish as he placed 40th at the Otterbein Invitational… Placed 101st at the GLIAC Championships.

High School: Ran for Bob Lennon at St. Francis DeSales High School…Qualified for state regionals in 2011 for the 1600-meter and 4x800-meter events…Qualified for 2011 Regional Cross Country meet…Qualified for regional meet in 2012 for the 3200-meter and 4x800-meter events…Named All-CCL for cross country in 2011…Named All-CCL for track in 2012…Member of the National Honors Society…Also played baseball.

Personal: Son of Jeff and Lori Howard…Has one sibling, Gigi…Enjoys disc golf, soccer, and golf…Chose ODU because “I immediately felt that the campus was a good fit for me and I felt very comfortable with Coach Benedict.”

lukeHoward

SopHoMoREpICKERInGton, oHIo/pICKERInGton noRtH

2012: Competed in all six meets for the Panthers…Was the team’s top finisher at the GLIAC Conference Championships, placing 75th with a time of 26:35.3…Finished 21st at the Otterbein Invitational.

High School: Ran for Tim Starkey at Pickerington North High School…Qualified for state track meet in 2012…Qualified for states in Cross Country in 2009…Also wrestled for one year.

Personal: Son of Russell and Jill Kilgore…Picked ODU because of the new track program, small school, and academics.

AustinKilgore

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SEnIoRGREEn SpRInGS, oHIo/St. JoSEpH CEntRAl CAtHolIC

2012: Competed in three meets… Finished 84th at the Otterbein Invitational…Re-corded a time of 30:43.6 at the Wilmington College Fall Classic.

2011: Competed in four of the Panthers’ meets…Recorded season best time of 29:58.80 at the Wilmington Fall Classic.

2010: Put forth a season-best effort placing 176th at the Otterbein Invitational with a time of 33:34.1.

High School: Comes to Ohio Dominican from Saint Joseph Central Catholic High School in Fremont, Ohio...Helped 4x800 relay team qualify for regionals...Also played soccer and bowled...Was captain of soccer team and earned First Team Midland Athletic League honors.

Christopher liebold

JunIoRMonCloVA, oHIo/AntHonY WAYnE

2012: Did not compete.

2011: Competed in five meets…Finished with season-best time of 28:52 at the National Catholic Championships.

High School: Four-year letterwinner in track and cross country…Captain of both teams…Earned scholastic honors and Presidential Academic Award.

Personal: Son of Jeff and Vickie Miller…Has two brothers, Caleb and Noah.

Ethan Miller

JunIoRColuMBuS, oHIo/BISHop WAttERSon

2012: Competed in five of six meets this season…Had a season-best time of 28:25.74 at the Wilmington College Fall Classic…Earned his best finish at the Ot-terbein Invitational, placing 64th.

2011: Registered best effort at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational with an 87th place fin-ish… Season-best time of 28:03.87 was recorded at the Wilmington Fall Classic.

High School: Ran for Matt McGowan at Bishop Watterson High School…Earned All-Central Catholic League honors in 2008, 2009 and 2010 in cross country…First-team All-Central Catholic League in 2009, 2010 and 2011 in track…All-District cross country honoree in 2009…District champion in 1600m in 2011…Regional qualifier in 1600m in 2010 and 2011…Helped guide team to cross country district champion-ship in 2009…Also played ice hockey.

Personal: Son of Rich and Patti Richardson…Has three siblings: Michael, Megan and Madeline.

MatthewRichardson

JunIoRCHIllICotHE, oHIo/unIoto

High School: Ran for coach Matt Paxton at Unioto High School... Three time ALL-Ohio Selection in 4x800... Regional Champs in cross country and 4x800... Academic All-Ohio... Graduated with Honors... National Honor Society Member... Eagle Scout.

Personal: Son of Bob and Jenny French... One Sibling Nicholas.

Doug french

PICTURE NOT

AVAILABLE

CROSS COUNTRY

2013 cross country


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SopHoMoREHEBRon, oHIo/lAKEWooD

2012: Competed in five meets during the season…Had his highest finish at the Ot-terbein Invitational, placing 34th…Finished 93rd at the GLIAC Conference Champion-ships, with a season-best time of 27:37.7.

High School: Ran for Dan Sekerak at Lakewood High School…Named First Team All-Mid State League three years straight…Named all-district three times during his high school career…Qualified for state meet…Five-time team MVP between track and cross country…Also played soccer.

Personal: Son of Mark and Rita Walburn…Enjoys soccer and music…Picked ODU because of the “great opportunities that the university offers to its students and student-athletes.”

Brendan Walburn

JunIoRpoWEll, oHIo/DuBlIn SCIoto

2012: Competed in all six meets…Finished 99th at the GLIAC Conference Cham-pionships with a time of 28:29.5…Recorded a time of 28:09.53 at the Wilmington College Fall Classic…Finished 47th at the Otterbein Invitational.

2011: Competed in all of the Panthers’ meets in 2011…Best finish was 104th at the GLIAC Championships… Season-best time of 29:19.05 was recorded at the Wilming-ton Fall Classic.

High School: Ran for Kevin Foley and Eric Cliffel at Dublin Scioto High School...Earned the Irish Spirit Award...Helped 4x200 relay team qualify for regionals.

Personal: Son of Jason Williams II and Penny Smith.

Jason Williams

fRESHMAnBEllEVuE, oHIo/BEllEVuE

High School: Ran for coaches Nick Lilly and Ryan Norris at Bellevue High School... First Team ALL-NOL cross country 2013... Second Team ALL-NOL cross country in 2012... Honorable Mention ALL-NOL 2012 for track in 3200... Honorable Mention ALL-NOL 2013 for track in 4x800...Personal Records in the 3200 was a 10:05…In the 1600 was a 4:46 and in the 800, 2:08…Had a personal record of 16:19 in the 5k.

Personal: Son of Amy Hartley and Chad Beier...Chose ODU because it’s close to home and likes campus size...Enjoys listening to music...Also wrestled in High School.

AndrewBeier

fRESHMAnSHElBY, oHIo/SHElBY

High School: Ran for coach Chris Zuercher at Shelby High School... Superintendents Honors List Captain of the Track Team... ALL-League Honorable Mention track and cross country...Favorite Memory was competing in regional’s in consecutive years...Also played football in high school.

Personal: Son of Brandy Leicy and Brian Dorsey...Chose ODU because of the small town atmosphere and the city of Columbus...Has four siblings- Alexandria, Dylan, Toby, and Braden...Enjoys traveling.

SethDorsey

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fRESHMAnAuStIntoWn, oHIo/AuStIntoWn fItCH

High School: Ran for coach Paul Farr at Austintown Fitch High School... Member of National Honors Society... Graduated with an Honors Diploma... Cross Country Team Captain... Rookie of the year award winner... three year letter winner in track & cross country... First Team ALL-ACC Cross Country...Track Distance Team MVP... Personal Records for the 5k was a 16:23.

Personal: Son of Michael and Meghan Ferguson... Has three siblings Rachel, Dana, and Daniel... Chose ODU because of small campus and strong academics...Hobbies include singing, juggling, and swimming, eating, and running... Also played basketball in high school.

patrickferguson

fRESHMAnMIDDlEBuRG HEIGHtS, oHIo/MIDpARK

High School: Ran for coach Rick Mack at Midpark High School... National Honor Society Member... Earned Academic Letter... Four year letter winner in track & cross country... Benson Award Recipient... Placed 8th at Indoor State Track Meet...Personal record time was a 17:52.

Personal: Son of Paul and Jill Higgins... Has one sibling Julia... Hobbies include camping, hunting, and fishing...Chose ODU because of small campus, great academ-ics, and athletic programs.

tylerHiggins

fRESHMAnWEStERVIllE, oHIo/WEStERVIllE noRtH

High School: Was a four-year letterwinner for Westerville North’s cross country team…Was also on the Merit roll during his time at North.

Personal: Son of Bob and Betsy Ferdette…has one sibling Joe…Placed 16th of 300 at a 5k race in New York City…Competed on the cross country, track & field and swimming teams in high school.

Zachfradette

2013 cross country


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SopHoMoREVAnDAlIA, oHIo/VAnDAlIA-ButlER

2012: Did not compete.

High School: Ran for Todd Thobe at Vandalia Butler High School…All-GWOC in 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x400 meter relay and 4x800 meter relay…Earned the GWOC Academic Scholar Award and the U.S. Marine Corps Most Distinguished Athlete Award…Was named athlete of the week two weeks straight by the Dayton Daily News in 2012…Named McDonald’s “She’s Got Game” athlete of the week in 2012…Also ran cross country.

Personal: Daughter of Rick and Laura Bachman…Has two siblings: Bret and Jimmy…Enjoys running, hanging out with friends and swimming…Chose ODU because of the coaches and math education program.

Katie Bachman

2013 women’s profiles

SopHoMoREColuMBuS, oHIo/BISHop READY

2012: Competed in all six meets for the Panthers…Was the third best finisher for ODU at the GLIAC Championships, placing 85th with a time of 24:24.5…Finished 16th at the Otterbein Invitational…Recorded a season-best time of 19:45.7 at the National Catholic Championships…Had four top 50 finishes in 2012.

High School: Ran for Dean Tower at Bishop Ready...First team selection in both cross country and track...Garnered all-district accolades in track as well...Also played basketball.

Personal: Daughter of Richard and Joyce Brown...Has three brothers: Justin, Casey and Brock...Justin played basketball at Ashland and Casey played basketball at nearby Capital...Enjoys drawing, swimming and painting...Chose ODU because of its proxim-ity to home and family and the opportunity to be on the track and cross country teams.

nicole Brown

SopHoMoREColuMBuS, oHIo/CEntEnnIAl

2012: Competed in two meets in 2012…Had her best finish at the Otterbein Invita-tional, placing 91st… Recorded a time of 23:06.0 at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational.

High School: Ran for Rhonda Reese at Centennial High School…Helped Centennial win Columbus City League championship as senior…Three year letter winner…Also ran cross country.

Personal: Daughter of Steven and Chara Childers…Has one stepbrother, Royale Day…Enjoys studying foreign languages…Chose ODU for the academic reputation and diverse programs.

CarolineChilders

SopHoMoREWADSWoRtH, oHIo/WADSWoRtH

2012: Competed in all six meets for the Panthers…Finished in the top 100 twice, including a 42nd place finish at the Otterbein Invitational…Recorded a time of 20:45.9 at the National Catholic Championships.

High School: Ran for Michelle Farr at Wadsworth High School…Named second team All-Suburban League all four years at Wadsworth…Qualified for regionals in cross country during her freshman and sophomore seasons…Four year letterwinner in cross country and track.

Personal: Daughter of Jeff and Kathie Priest…Has three siblings: Drew, Morgann, and Moira…Chose ODU because of her ability to continue her running career and the small size of the school.

Mollypriest

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SopHoMoREnApolEon, oHIo/nApolEon

2012: Competed in all six meets in 2012…Recorded her best time at the Otterbein Invitational with a 20:16.4, good for 20th place…Was the second-best finisher for the Panthers at the GLIAC Championships, placing 80th with a time of 24:03.1…Finished in the top 100 in four meets.

High School: Ran for Randy Burke at Napoleon High School…Helped Wildcats make four regional appearances in cross country and finish fifth in state as senior…Four-time all-conference performer…Napoleon also won district title and finished as regional runner-up during her senior year…Regional qualifier in 4x800 meter relay and 1600…First Team All-GBC in 4x800 as junior…Lettered four times in both track and cross country…Also played basketball.

Personal: Daughter of Doug and Cathy Willeman…Has two siblings, Zachary and Landon.

AmberWilleman

JunIoRDAYton, oHIo/CHAMInADE JulIEnnE

2012: Competed in all six meets in 2012…Recorded a time of 21:04.07 at the Wilm-ington College Fall Classic…Finished 53rd at the Otterbein Invitational and 56th at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational…Placed 99th at the GLIAC Championships.

2011: One of five Panthers to compete in every meet during the 2011 season…Achieved her season-best time of 21:50 at the National Catholic Championships…Finished 110th at the GLIAC Championships, marking her highest place finish of the season.

Rachel Collins

JunIoRlEWIS CEntER, oHIo/olEntAnGY

2012: Competed in all six meets for the Panthers and placed in the top five in three of them… Was named GLIAC Cross Country Runner of the Week twice in 2012, the first runner at ODU to earn the award… Broke the school record with a time of 18:17.5 at the Wilmington Invitational and finished fifth out of 340 runners… Finished third at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational, the best finish by any ODU runner since the team transitioned to NCAA Division II…Placed fourth at the Otterbein Invitational…Missed All-GLIAC honors by 11 seconds at the GLIAC Championships, finishing with a time of 22:07.9 and placing 18th…Finished the season by placing in the top 50 at all six meets.

2011: One of two freshmen competing in the 2011 season…Recorded the team’s season-best time of 19:14 at the National Catholic Championships…Finished a season best of 24th at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational…Placed 68th at the GLIAC Championships…Finished 105th at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Champi-onship…Ended the season with three top 50 finishes and four finishes in the top 100.

High School: Ran for Dwight Dewesse at Olentangy High School…Four-year letter-winner in cross country…Named Team MVP in cross country all four years…Elected team captain her junior and senior years…Helped team advance to regional meet.

Personal: Daughter of Laurie and Steve Walker.

taraWalker

SEnIoRSpRInGfIElD, oHIo/noRtHWEStERn

2012: Competed in all six meets for the Panthers… Finished in the top 100 three times, including a 39th place finish at the Otterbein Invitational… Recorded a time of 20:51.9 at the National Catholic Championships…Placed 94th at the GLIAC Champi-onships.

2011: Notched a season-best place of 90th at the National Catholic Champion-ships… Also recorded her season-best time of 20:33 at the National Catholic Champi-onships…Placed 144th at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship with a time of 26:41.6.

2010: Only freshman to compete in all meets…Recorded a season-best fourth-place finish at the Tiffin University Opener with a time of 12:37…Was the team’s top finisher in all seven meets during her breakout freshman season.

High School: Two-time state qualifier in cross country…Four-time all-conference performer as well as four-time All-Clark County performer…Three-time all-area hon-oree…Also a standout in track, earning four all-county awards…Regional qualifier on three occasions…Earned the Central Buckeye Conference Track Sportsmanship Award as a senior…Brother, Zack, ran cross country at Bowling Green.

Mallory Kitts

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SEnIoRMAnSfIElD, oHIo/MADISon

2012: Competed in two meets for the Panthers…Finished 128th at the Otterbein Invitational…Recorded a time of 28:37.51 at the Wilmington College Fall Classic.

2011: Competed in three meets during the 2011 season…Placed 28th at the Ot-terbein Duals…Recorded her season best time of 31:15.85 at the Wilmington Fall Classic.

2010: Posted a season-best time of 28:57.0 at the Wilmington College Fall Classic.

High School: Joins ODU from Mansfield Madison High School…Won team’s Coach’s Award…Class Valedictorian…Also played softball…Uncle, John Mascazine, is a professor at ODU.

Kelly litt

SEnIoRpAtASKAlA, oHIo/WAtKInS MEMoRIAl

2012: Competed in three meets, improving her time each meet…Recorded a time of 21:32.44 at the Wilmington College Fall Classic…Placed 69th at the Otterbein Invitational.

2011: Competed in every meet during the 2011 season…Achieved her season-best placing at the GLIAC Championships, finishing 117th…Recorded her season-best time of 22:03 at the National Catholic Championships.

2010: Competed in six meets…Recorded her best mark at the Wilmington College Fall Classic with a time of 21:01.7.

High School: Comes to ODU from Watkins Memorial High School in Pataskala, Ohio…Three-year letterwinner in track and also lettered twice in cross country…Helped lead team to consecutive conference championships in both track and cross country…Two-time regional qualifier in cross country and three-time district qualifier in track…Named team’s Most Improved Sophomore…Honor roll student and member of student council.

MichelleMcKean

SEnIoRSHREVE, oHIo/WESt HolMES

2012: Competed in three meets for the Panthers… Finished 119th at the Otterbein Invitational… Recorded a time of 24:20.74 at the Wilmington College Fall Classic.

2011: Ran in five of the seven meets in 2011…Posted her season best time of 24:25.42 at the All-Ohio Invite…Her best place finish was at the GLIAC Champion-ships, where she finished 118th with a time of 30:42.35.

2010: Ran in five races…Posted her best mark of 22:47.7 at the Wilmington College Fall Classic.

High School: Comes to Ohio Dominican from West Holmes High School...Two-time letterwinner in cross country...Qualified for regionals as a junior and senior...2009 Coaches Award winner...Two-time academic all-district honoree...Also lettered three times in basketball and led team to three regional tournament appearances...Class Valedictorian...2010 OHSAA Scholar Athlete Award winner, 2010 Ray A. Kroc Award winner and 2009 Buckeye Girls State Representative.

BethanyMolnar

fRESHMAnCAMBRIDGE, oHIo/CAMBRIDGE

High School: Four year varsity letter winner in cross country and track... Three year All-Eastern District All-Star, Four year All-Academic Team... Most Valuable Runner in cross country.

Personal: Daughter of Mark and Lisa Jamiel... Has one sibling Ryan, who played basketball in college... Hobbies include playing piano and guitar... Chose ODU because it’s a small school near a big city that offers her intended major, and she can run for ODU.

RachelJamiel

13



fRESHMAnlEWIS CEntER, oHIo/olEntAnGY oRAnGE

High School: Ran for coach Ingrid Simpson at Olentangy Orange High School... Was a varsity letterman in track...Earned scholar athlete award...Also earned Pioneer award.

Personal: Daughter of Geoff and Kim Davis... Has one sibling Derek... Chose ODU because she loves the campus and smaller class sizes.

lindsay Davis

SopHoMoREBRooK pARK, oHIo/MIDpARK

High School: Four year Principal’s honor roll award recipient... Presidential Award... National Honors Society... Volunteer of the Year award as a senior... Student Ambas-sador Club Secretary... SWC Champion and SWC MVP as a senior in cross country... 17th place at state cross country meet as a senior... Personal Records in the 5k was an 18:38…Also was a diver in high school.

Personal: Daughter of Davina Kabicek... Chose ODU because of great reputation of school and chance to be a part of running program... Favorite High School memory was being State Champ in 4x4 as a junior... Hobbies include reading, playing the violin, and watching The Golden Girls.

ShakitaKabciek

fRESHMAnREYnolDSBuRG, oHIo/REYnolDSBuRG

High School: Ran for coach Denny Hammond at Reynoldsburg High School... Received All-OCC freshmen of the year in cross country.

Personal: Daughter of Angi and Chris Rider... Has one sibling Slade... Chose ODU because of everything that the campus offers, and it is close to home.

Kyrsty Rider

fRESHMAnHARtVIllE, oHIo/MARlInGton

High School: Ran for coaches Bob Dagenhardt and Molly Middleton at Marlington High School... First Team All- Stark County... Second Team All-NBC... Team District Champs... Three year track letter winner... Also earned letter in cross country.

Personal : Daughter of Rick and Lisa Bitzel... Has three siblings Mackenzie, Kyle, and Madison... Hobbies include running and volleyball... Chose ODU because she feels it gives her an opportunity to meet new people and learn from the faculty... Also played volleyball in high school.

Morgan Bitzal

JunIoRlonDon, oHIo

First year on the cross country team.

High School: Attended London High School…Three-time varsity letterwinner and two-year captain for the Red Raiders…Recipient of the All-Madison County Athlete Award for winter athletes as a junior and senior.

Erin Miller

JunIoRDAYton, oHIo

First year on the cross country team.

High School: High School: Was a scholar athlete all four years at Northmont High School…Also was a three year letterman on the soccer team.

Hayley Knotsman

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Ohio Dominican University is an accredited four-year liberal arts institution, founded in 1911 in the Catholic and Dominican traditions. The university has more than 3,100 students and offers undergraduate degrees in over 50 majors as well as six graduate degree programs. Ohio Dominican uses a student-centered approach, with a commit-ment to quality teaching and learning and a number of academic programs of distinction.

Academics are at the heart of everything done at Ohio Dominican University. Institutions of higher learning exist to provide education for their students, and that education starts in the classroom. It continues, of course, on athletic fields and in residence halls, in re-hearsals and clubs, in the library and the lab, but it begins with the relationship between students and their instructors.

ODU’s mission is grounded in our identity as a Catholic and Dominican liberal arts institution. The University’s motto - To contemplate truth and share the fruits of that contemplation with others - serves as our guiding principle of teaching and learning. ODU’s core curriculum, taken by all students, focuses on seven learning outcomes that collectively identify the institution’s expectations for what all students will be able to be and do as Ohio Dominican graduates. Additionally, students complete a sequence of courses in one of 50 undergraduate major areas of study including those in the arts, sciences, and professions.

Led by a talented faculty dedicated to excellence in teaching and committed to helping students learn, ODU’s student engagement model focuses on serving the whole student through personal attention and assistance in collaboration with the institution’s Divi-sion of Student Development. Ohio Dominican is fully accredited and offers academic programs at the baccalaureate and masters degree levels through five divisions: Arts and Letters; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Mathematics, Computer and Natural Sciences; Business; and Education.

The University is significantly expanding the level of on-campus student extracurricular activities and improving residential life. At the same time, Ohio Dominican has expanded its extracurricular offerings, providing a greater number of on-campus activities for both

residential and commuter students. A central focus has been the addition of a new Student Center and expansion of athletic programs, which attract student athletes and nonathletes alike, and foster alumni participation.

Student organizations and activities at ODU offer events and activities that relate to areas of academic interest, student government, artistic performance, multicultural identity, media, athletic, social, honorary, religious and service organizations. Ohio Dominican student activities and events are open to all students.

Over the past 10 years, Ohio Dominican has followed an aggressive expansion plan for its facilities which include three new residence halls; additional sports and recreation facilities; development of Sunbury Road as a gateway to the campus; the new Bishop James A Griffi n Student Center and a new science facility, Battelle Hall.

The 2010 - 2011 academic year will be a special time for the institution as its students, faculty, staff, alumni, community leaders and friends celebrate the University’s Centen-nial anniversary. Although the University will mark its Centennial birthday on October 5, 2011 (Founder’s Day), the calendar of events will commence in October 2010 and will continue through June 2012.

The Centennial theme, A Century of Transforming Lives, reflects ODU’s Dominican heritage, history and tradition. This celebration encourages the University community to reflect upon the transformative effect that Ohio Dominican has had on the lives its faculty, students, alumni, staff and friends.

Ohio Dominican is focused on becoming the preeminent Catholic institution of higher learning, providing quality programs in both the liberal arts and the professions, com-mitted to the fundamental value of liberal education, and deeply rooted in its Dominican tradition. Ohio Dominican is known for its student-centered and innovative approaches to teaching and learning; its commitment to excellence in academic and co-curricular programs; its commitment to service and community responsibility; its outstanding campus facilities and resources; its global outreach in response to educational needs; and its reputation for distinction in values-based higher education.

university information

QuICK fACtS

Church Affiliation: Roman Catholic. Founded by the Congregation of Do-minican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs (now Dominican Sisters of Peace).

Motto: “To contemplate truth and to share with others the fruits of this contemplation.”

Campuses: Main Campus on Sunbury Road and Airport Drive, Tuttle Crossing (Adult degree programs offered at all campuses).

Undergraduate: Undergraduate degrees in 50 majors.

Degrees: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science.

Master’s Degrees: Master of Arts in Theology; Master of Business Ad-ministration*^; Master of Arts in Liberal Studies*; Master of Arts in TESOL; Master of Sport Science; other degrees in development.

* Available in a 4+1 format. ^Courses available online.

Undergraduate Costs: Tuition & Fees - $25,280 per year. Room and Board - $8,322 (based on room type)

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With a population of 787,033 covering more than 210 square miles, Columbus is the larg-est city in Ohio and the 15th largest city in the United States. Columbus offers something special for everyone, from the No. 1 science center in the country at COSI and the nation’s No. 1 zoo at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to the lively Arena District, the hip Short North Arts District and historic German Village.

Ohio’s capital city, Columbus has a dynamic business climate, a commitment to diversity, exciting annual festivals and cultural events, and unique arts and entertainment opportu-nities. We also are proud to be the home of great professional, amateur and collegiate sports, including the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew and Triple-A baseball’s Columbus Clippers. Other major annual sports events in Columbus include the Arnold Sports Festival & Fitness Weekend, PGA Memorial Tourna-ment at Muirfield, The Columbus Marathon and New Albany Classic Grand Prix.

Many nationally recognized companies began in Columbus, including Wendy’s In-ternational, Worthington Industries, CompuServe, Red Roof Inns, Bank One, Hun-tington Bancshares, Limited Brands, Nationwide Insurance, the Longaberger Com-pany and Bob Evans Farms, Inc., Abercrombie & Fitch and Express.

city of columbus

Photo Credits: Nationwide Realty Investors, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus Blue Jackets/Nationwide Arena

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peter Cimbolic, ph.D. In the spring of 2010, the Ohio Dominican University Board of Trustees appointed Peter Cimbolic, Ph.D. as the 15th president of the institution. His official duties began July 1, 2010.

Before serving as ODU’s president, Dr. Cimbolic was Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Marywood University in Scranton, PA. He also served as a tenured full professor of psychology.

Since 2008 Dr. Cimbolic has also concurrently served as an Adjunct Professor of Neuroscience for The Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton; and from 2003 to 2007, as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and as a tenured Professor of Psychology at Bellarmine University, an independent Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky.

From 1999 to 2003, he served as Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies for The Catholic University of America. Before that, he served as Director of the Counseling Center at Catholic University for 18 years, and as a tenured professor in the Department of Psychology.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Cimbolic served on the faculty and directed counseling centers at the University of North Texas and the University of New Hampshire.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Montclair State College; a master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from the Teachers College of Columbia University; and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri.

Dr. Cimbolic is an internationally known scholar who has published extensively. He is also the recipient of the District of Columbia College Personnel Association Lifetime Research Award for his outstanding contribution to knowledge in the profession.

Active in his community, he serves on the board of directors of the Wall Street West Higher Education Consortium funded in part by Workforce Innovation, U.S. Department of Labor; the Lackawanna Industrial Fund Enterprise (Scranton, PA), and the Scranton Tennis Club. He also served on the board of directors of the Louisville Health Enterprises Network; and as president of St. Mary’s Parish Council, Annapolis, MD.

Dr. Cimbolic has five children: Mrs. Christie Baker of Marblehead MA; Dr. Kathleen Gunthert of Silver Spring, MD; Peter Cimbolic of Baltimore, MD; and Brian Cimbolic of Odenton, MD. Dr. Cimbolic is the proud grandfather of four grandchildren. He, his wife Kristi and their son, Stephen, reside in Columbus.

General Information...................................1.800.955.OHIO

Fax ............................................................... 614.252.0776

Academic Affairs .......................................... 614.251.4730

Admissions .................................................. 614.251.4500

Alumni Office ............................................... 614.251.4617

Campus Ministry ......................................... 614.251.4567

College Operator .......................................... 614.253.2741

Financial Aid ................................................ 614.251.4640

International Office ....................................... 614.251.4646

Intramurals ................................................... 614.251.4531

Library ......................................................... 614.251.4752

Security ........................................................ 614.251.4700

Student Activities ......................................... 614.251.4726

Student Service Center ................................. 614.251.4550

Sports Information ....................................... 614.251.4577

University Relations ..................................... 614.251.4453

university president

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I-670 to the oDu campus...

• ExitI-670at5thAvenue(exit7)

• LefttoNelsonRoad

• Right(North)onNelsonRd.toAirportDr./LeonardAve.

• Left(West)toSunburyRoad(1stlight)

• Right(North)onSunburyRoadtothe2ndlight

• Visitorparkingisonyourleft

Getting to I-670...

from Cleveland and points north...

• I-71SouthtoI-270inColumbus

• I-270EasttoI-670West

• ExitI-670Westat5thAvenue(exit7)

from Cincinnati and points South...

• I-71NorthtoI-670inColumbus

• ExitI-670Eastat5thAvenue(exit7)

Athletic Administration

Vice President of Student Development James (Jamie) Caridi ................................. 251-4596

Athletic Director Jeff Blair ..................................................... 251-4735

Athletic Director Emeritus Bill Blazer ................................................... 251-4710

Asst. AD/Senior Woman Administrator Sandy Rowley............................................. 251-4538

Director of Compliance Cindy Hahn ................................................ 251-4642

Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Timothy Walker ..................................... 251-4658

Athletic Administrative Assistant Elia Diaz .................................................... 251-4537

Sports Information Staff

Sports Information Director Scott Miles ................................................ 251-4577 [email protected]

Assistant Sports Information Director Ryan Beigle ................................................ 253-3482 [email protected]

Sports Information Graduate Assistant Sarah Twiggs .............................................. 251-4843 [email protected]

Sports Information FAX .............................. 252-2556

Athletic training Staff

Head Athletic Trainer Jamison French.......................................... 253-4864 [email protected]

Assistant Athletic Trainers JR Bonham................................................. 253-4864 [email protected]

Tyler Congrove, ......................................... 253-4864 [email protected]

Coaches

Baseball Paul Page ................................................... 251-4535 [email protected]

Basketball - Men’s Dan Evans .................................................. 251-4533 [email protected]

Basketball - Women’s Lynsey Warren............................................ 251-4564 [email protected]

Track & Field/Cross Country - Men’s and Women’s Paul Benedict ............................................. 251-4537 [email protected]

Football Bill Conley ................................................. 251-4556 [email protected]

university directions

Golf - Men’s and Women’s Chris Deibel ............................................... 253-3481 [email protected]

Soccer - Men’s Willy Merrick.............................................. 251-4531 [email protected]

Soccer - Women’s Jonathan Meade ......................................... 251-4635 [email protected]

Softball Marcella Vanlandingham ............................ 251-4532 [email protected]

Tennis - Men’s and Women’s Ryan Beigle ................................................ 253-3482 [email protected]

Volleyball Sandy Rowley............................................. 251-4538 [email protected]

from pittsburgh and points East...

• I-70WesttoI-270Columbus

• I-270NorthtoI-670

• ExitI-670Westat5thAvenue(exit7)

from Dayton and points West...

• I-70EasttoColumbus

• I-71NorthtoI-670East

• ExitI-670at5thAvenue(exit7)

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panther field football, Men’s and Women’s Soccer

Ohio Dominican University continues to demonstrate progressive improvement to its athletic facilities with the addition of Panther Field. Built in 2004, our newest athletic facility is home to our football team and men’s and women’s soccer teams as well as our club level lacrosse team. To withstand the wear and tear of constant use, Panther Field is equipped with the latest in artificial surfaces, SprinTurf®. The field has a seating capacity of 1,750 with a 42-foot press box located at the top of the home bleachers. Recent additions to Panther Field include bleachers on the guest side of the field with a capacity of 500 and a building that houses a ticket office, concession stand and restrooms. Lights were also recently added to the facility, an addition that makes Panther Field one of the finer facilities of its size in the Midwest. The new facility replaced ODU’s former natural grass soccer complex and is located next to Alumni Hall on the west side of campus.

Alumni Hall Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Volleyball

Opened in 1989, Alumni Hall has a seating capacity of 3,000 and is the home of the women’s volleyball and the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Alumni Hall was given a much needed renovation and expansion in 2009-10. One full-length bas-ketball court was added, the hardwood was resurfaced, and bleachers were added to the far side of the court.

After the renovation all of the coaches now have an office on the second floor of Alumni. There are also several rooms that coaches may utilize to review game tape, hold team meetings and meet with future and current Panthers. Some of the other amenities in Alumni Hall are four locker rooms, the Black and Gold Room, a spa-cious conference room, a refurbished weight room that is available to both students and student-athletes, and an athletic training room. Alumni Hall has the capability of accommodating three regulation size basketball and volleyball courts.

panther Courts Men’s and Women’s tennis

Also on the grounds of the Ohio Dominican Sports Complex west side location are six regulation size tennis courts complete with lights. The courts were recently re-surfaced with a blue Latex-ite® coating that resembles the courts that host the U.S. Open Championship. The tennis courts are enclosed with a green chain link fence to accommodate the Panther men’s and women’s tennis teams.

panther Valley/frank Damian fielD Baseball

First time visitors are pleasantly surprised by the hidden beauty of Panther Valley as they descend upon ODU’s prized baseball diamond. Sunken well below street-level and masked by plentiful trees, the only evidence of what awaits below is the echoing “ping” of aluminum bats meeting baseballs. The field is complete with a batting cage, home bullpen beyond the left field line and a visitor bullpen along the right field line. A recent addition to Panther Valley is a state-of-the-art scoreboard complete graphics and animatronics. Panther Valley has developed year-by-year to the point that it is now considered one of the finest college baseball facilities in the country.

panther Softball field

Over the years Panther Softball Field has evolved into one of the nicest facilities in the state of Ohio. The brick dust field is routinely praised by Panther opponents as the epitome of what a field should be. With its dimensions of 210 to the corners and 225 to straight away center, this softball complex features enclosed dugouts, a scoreboard, bullpens beyond the left field line, and an underground irrigation system.

Hitting facility

Located next to the softball field is the hitting facility for both the baseball and soft-ball teams. The hitting facility provides a place for both teams to refine their skills through the harsh Central Ohio weather. With the retractable nets, the hitting facility contains three batting cages complete with pitching mounds and pitching machines.

panther training facility

Along with the addition of the new stadium in 2004, the Panthers added a 7,500 square foot training facility west of the main parking lot. The facility is equipped with the latest in hammer strength weight training equipment and ODU’s second athletic training room. Offices for athletic training personal are also located in the new facility.

Cumberland trail Golf Club

The Panthers are fortunate to call Cumberland Trail Golf Club their home. The course, designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, opened in 1999 and measures up to 7,205 yards from the back tees. Known for its excellent conditioning and difficult design, Cumberland Trail ranks fourth in Central Ohio among public golf courses, according to Mid Ohio Golfer, and received 3.5 stars from Golf Digest. The greens at Cumberland Trail are considered by many to be the finest in the Columbus area and challenge even the best putters. The ODU golf team has unlimited access to the facility which includes a driving range and large practice green.

Golf practice facilities

ODU golfers have the ability to practice year round at one of two practice facilities. Bridgeview Driving Range, located just 6 minutes from campus, serves as the out-door practice facility during the Spring and Fall Grass tees, a large putting green, and an excellent short game practice area are just a few of the benefits available to our teams.

When the weather turns cold, ODU players practice at “The Dome”, the largest in-door driving range in Ohio. “The Dome” measures a full 90 yards from front to back and the indoor temperature is kept around 60 degrees. It provides the perfect environment for the golfers to improve during the cold winter months.

athletic facilities

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Sandy Rowley - Senior Woman Administrator

A former Ohio Dominican student, assistant coach, and now in her 25th season as head coach of the Panther volleyball team, Sandy Rowley embodies the Panther persona.

Rowley has been a fixture in the Panther athletic department. As part of ODU’s transition to the NCAA Division II, Rowley also serves as the Senior Women’s Administrator and Assistant Athletic Director for the Athletic Department. As the SWA, Rowley oversees the Panther Student Athletic Advisor Committee (SAAC) along with other administrative duties.

Since her first season in 1989, Rowley has been a staple on the Panther bench and in the ODU community. A friendly and demanding coach, Rowley has guided the Panthers to 13 winning seasons, including seven straight from 1994-2000, and 18 conference tournament appearances. In 1995, Rowley directed ODU to a program-record 35 victo-ries, including 18 in conference play, which is also a program record. The team has won at least 20 matches 12 times during her tenure, including two of the past three years.

Rowley’s tremendous dedication and hard work of developing young student-athletes over the years culminated with her 400th win on Oct. 4, 2008, as the Panthers defeated Grace College, 3-1, in Winona Lake, Indiana.

In her 24 seasons at the helm of the ODU volleyball team, Rowley has coached 17 NAIA Academic All-Americans, 46 All-Conference Academic performers, 68 All-Conference selections and 15 All-Freshman Team players. Her dedication to the collegiate athlete has been proven time-and-time again on and off the court.

Rowley and her husband Jeff live in New Albany, Ohio, with their three daughters, Lyndsay, Jennifer and Kelsey.

Bill Blazer – Athletic Director Emeritus Director of Athletic Development

Bill Blazer began his tenure as Ohio Dominican’s fifth Athletic Director in August of 2004 and moved to the role of Director of Athletic Development in 2011. During his time as the Athletic Director at ODU, the Panthers won 14 conference titles and qualified for 12 national tournaments. Off the field, the Athletic Department has set high academic standards for its students as the athletes have earned a higher combined GPA then the general student body.

Prior to taking over the athletic department at ODU, Blazer spent 14 years at Urbana University, where he served as Athletic Director, Men’s Golf Coach and a tenured Associate Professor in the Division of Business and Economics.

Blazer has served the NAIA as a Region IX representative on the Council for Affiliated Conferences and Independents since 2003. He has also served as chairman of the Mid-States Football Association in 2000 and again in 2006 and was chairman of Men’s Golf in the American Mideast Conference for nine years. Blazer is also a member of the United States Golf Association and serves on the Board of Directors with the Ohio Publinx Golf Association.

In 2007-08, Blazer was named NAIA Region IX Athletic Director of the Year and was recognized at the Marriott Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri at the NAIA Athletic Directors Association annual meeting. Recently, Blazer was named the NAIA Northeast Region Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year for 2008-09. The 29 winners from all divisions were recognized during the 44th Annual NACDA Convention at the James J. Corbett Luncheon at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Blazer received his Bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University in business administration and his Master’s degree in teacher education from Wright State University.

Jeff Blair - Athletic Director

Jeff Blair enters his third year as Ohio Dominican’s athletic director and his 13th year overall working at the university.

The Bellefontaine, Ohio native played a critical role in ODU’s successful transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II and entrance into the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2010. Currently, he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the athletic department and its 18 varsity intercollegiate sports while serving as a member of the ODU Director’s Council, as well as on the Compliance, Athletic and Hall of Fame Committees.

The Panther athletic programs reached new heights in the 2012-13 year, with the men’s tennis and men’s golf teams qualifying for the NCAA Tournament and a record-number of student-athletes achieving a 3.0 GPA.

Blair was hired as Ohio Dominican’s sports information director in 2000. He was elevated to the position of assistant athletic director in 2005, a role he held until 2010 when he was named the acting athletic director. He was promoted to the full-time athletic director role in 2011.

Blair is a 1998 graduate of the University of Findlay, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in sports management and was a four-time varsity baseball letterwinner. He went on to earn his Masters of Business Administration degree from Findlay as well, spending a year as a graduate assistant with the baseball team and a year with the sports

information office.

Before arriving at Ohio Dominican, Blair volunteered on the regional crew for ESPN’s College GameDay, assisting the production crew for game day operations in the Midwest. In 2001, he was honored by the College Sports Information Directors of America for publications excellence, winning second place for men’s and women’s soccer media guides.

Blair currently resides in Columbus with his wife Lori, his son Mason and his daughter Abby.

Jamie Caridi – Vice president of Student Development

James “Jamie” Caridi joined the senior administrative team at Ohio Dominican University as Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Retention in August 2007.

As vice president for student development, Caridi oversees Athletics, Campus Ministry, Student Activities, Counseling and Health Services, Multicultural Affairs, International Affairs, Student Leadership and Success, Career Services, and Residence Life. Since 1998, Caridi has held a series of positions in student development at St. Vincent College (PA), most recently serving as Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students where his responsibilities included managing all Student Affairs areas and functions, strategic planning, residence hall construction and rehabilitation, Student Leadership, Service Learning and Student Housing.

Caridi holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from St. Vincent College and a master’s degree in Higher Education from Geneva College. He is currently working on his doctoral degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

athletic leadership

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The Great Lakes Intercolle-giate Athletic Conference(GLIAC), founded in 1972, hasbeen a leader in the advance-ment and promotion of inter-collegiate athletics for men andwomen for 40 years.

The charter members of theGLIAC were Ferris State University, Grand Valley StateUniversity, Lake Superior State University, Northwood Uni-versity (then Institute), and Saginaw Valley State University.

Expansion of the GLIAC began immediately with the additionof Oakland University in 1974. Hillsdale College, NorthernMichigan University, and Wayne State University were ac-cepted as members in 1975. In 1977, the conference lost itsfirst member when Northern Michigan withdrew. MichiganTechnological University filled the vacancy when it became amember in 1980. After the 1986-87 season, Northwood leftthe conference and was replaced by Northern Michigan.Northwood rejoined the conference in 1992.

After the 1989 season, the conference dropped football as asponsored sport. The conference schools sponsoring footballjoined the members of the Heartland Collegiate Conference informing the football-only Midwest Intercollegiate FootballConference (MIFC), which began play in 1990.

After nine years as one of the premier conferences in DivisionII football, the MIFC merged as part of GLIAC on July 1,1999. With the merger, the University of Indianapolis becamean associate member as a football-only school.

The GLIAC entered a new era in the 1995-96 school year.Prior to that time, all GLIAC member institutions were locatedin the state of Michigan. On Dec. 14, 1994, membership wasoffered to three schools located in Ohio and Pennsylvania.The expansion members were Ashland University of Ash-land, Ohio, and Gannon University and Mercyhurst College,both located in Erie, Pennsylvania. All three schools begantheir membership July 1, 1995.

On July 1, 1997, membership was granted to The Universityof Findlay, located in Findlay, Ohio. UF replaced OaklandUniversity, which withdrew from the conference after the1996-97 season as it moved to NCAA Division I status.

The GLIAC membership changed again when Tiffin Univer-sity of Ohio joined the conference in the 2008-09 academicyear. Tiffin was offered membership on June 20, 2007. Theaddition of Tiffin left the GLIAC with 12 full-time members asGannon and Mercyhurst moved to the Pennsylvania StateAthletic Conference after the 2007-08 season.

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceThe GLIAC entered a new era during the 2009-10 academicyear. Commissioner Tom Brown, who had presided over theleague for 17 years, retried on June 30, 2009. The longestserving commissioner in the history of the GLIAC, Brownexpanded the conference from 10 full members to 14 fullmembers and two associate members. Also under his leader-ship, the conference has grown to offering championships in 21sports while rising to prominence on the national level asGLIAC teams and student-athletes have achieved successboth in the classroom and on the fields of play.

The Conference entered another new era on July 1, 2010 whenLake Erie College of Painesville, Ohio, and Ohio DominicanUniversity, located in Columbus, joined the GLIAC.

The policy-making body of the GLIAC is the ManagementCouncil, which is comprised of three representatives fromeach member institution – its director of athletics, facultyathletics representative and senior woman administrator.

The presidency of the GLIAC Management Council is rotatedalphabetically by school, with Suzanne Sanregret, Director ofAthletics at Michigan Technological University, serving asGLIAC President in 2011-12. Dr. Glenn Mroz, President ofMichigan Technological University, will serve as the chairper-son of the GLIAC Presidents Council this year.

The GLIAC made history in 2009 when it hired Dell Robinsonas Commissioner. Robinson became the first ethnic minority toserve as D-II commissioner of a non-historically black collegeor university conference when he began his duties on July 1,2009.

Assisting Robinson are: Penny Cook, Asst. Commissioner forCompliance/SWA, Jeff Ligney, Asst. Commissioner for Me-dia Relations; Denise Gross, Assistant to the Commissioner;Mike McCann, Supervisor of Football Officials; Kim Vieira,Supervisor of Soccer Officials; Jeanne Skinner, Supervisor ofVolleyball Officials; Rob Doss, Supervisor of Women’s Bas-ketball Officials; Bill Ek, Supervisor of Men’s BasketballOfficials; and Rich Fetchiet, Assignor of Baseball Umpires.

John Hoekje 1971-72 to 1978-79Herbert “Pete” Peterson 1979-80 to 1984-85Tom Donahue 1985-86 to 1986-87Vern Norris 1987-88 to 1991-92Tom Brown 1992-93 to 2008-09Dell Robinson 2009-10 to present

The GLIAC Commissioners

the gliac

21



Jamie French is entering his 10th year as the Head Athletic Trainer for Ohio Dominican University.

French came to ODU after working for eight years (1996-2004) at Reynoldsburg High School as its Head Athletic Trainer. French also has four years of experience (1993-1996) as an athletic trainer with the Chillicothe Paints Baseball Club and the Hagerstown Suns, a Class A minor league baseball affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

French received a bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training from Wilming-ton College in 1994. He is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Licensed Massage Therapist and recently received his Performance Enhancement Specialist Certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

French, a native of Chillicothe, currently resides in Canal Winchester with his wife, Melissa, and two sons, Gabriel and Evan.

JR Bonham is entering his 10th year at ODU as the Assistant Athletic Trainer. In that role, he assists Head Athletic Trainer Jamie French in all duties of the Athletic Training department.

Prior to coming to ODU, Bonham worked as an athletic trainer for Columbus Public Schools at the high school level. From 2003-2004, he was the Head Athletic Trainer for Walnut Ridge and Independence High Schools, where he coordinated athletic training for 27 interscholastic athletic teams.

Bonham received a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training in 2003 from Otterbein Col-lege. While at Otterbein, he worked as a student athletic trainer for the Cardinals under head athletic trainer Charles Goodwin. He has been a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association since 2002.

Bonham finished his masters of science in exercise science and health promotion with an emphasis in sports psychology from California University of Pennsylvania in 2009.

A native of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Bonham is a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School. He currently resides in Columbus.

Tyler Congrove joins Ohio Dominican's sports medicine team as an assistant athletic trainer for the 2012-13 year.

Congrove has spent the past two summers working as the head athletic trainer for sum-mer collegiate baseball teams in the Chillicothe Paints (2011) and Thomasville HiToms (2012). A native of Circleville, Ohio, he spent two years as a graduate assistant at UNC-Greensboro, where he worked with the volleyball and men's and women's track and field teams.

Congrove received his Master's of Science in kinesiology with a concentration in sports medicine from UNC-Greensboro. He completed his undergraduate work at nearby Ot-terbein College, where he also ran cross country and track.

Congrove currently resides in New Albany.

athletic trainers

HEAD AtHlEtIC tRAInER

JAMISon fREnCH

ASSIStAnt AtHlEtIC tRAInER

jr BonHAM

ASSIStAnt AtHlEtIC tRAInER

tYlER ConGRoVE

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