Z I P S
A T H L E T I C S
ANNUALCADREPORT EMIC YEAR 2015-16 A
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
AT H L E T I C D I R E C T O R ’ S W E L C O M E What an outstanding year for Zips’ Athletics! Individually and collectively, the 2015-16 academic year was among the best-ever for our student-athletes at The University of Akron. From winning our second Reese Trophy as the top men’s athletics program in the MidAmerican Conference and a Top 25 ranking in the Capital One Cup, to another College Cup appearance (and a breadth away from a National Championship) by our men’s soccer team together with a first bowl victory by our football team, to Clayton Murphy capturing two NCAA national championships in track, we experienced competitive success at the highest level. Academically, our student-athletes continued to excel in the classroom with an overall gradepoint average (GPA) of 3.07. More than 200 of our student-athletes made the Dean’s List with a 3.5 (or above) GPA with 39 student-athletes earning Presidential recognition with a perfect 4.0 GPA. The Zips captured 136 Academic All-MAC honors with 60 of those earning Distinguished Scholar-Athlete accolades. Throughout these pages, you will read about all of the Zips’ achievements, as well as the conference titles in Men’s Basketball, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Men’s Indoor Track & Field, and Men’s Outdoor Track & Field. Additionally, this summer three Zips will compete at the Olympic Games in Rio. We would like to thank our loyal fans for your continued support, especially in the stands. We look forward to seeing you at our events again next year; be proud and bring your friends!
Welcome Letter........................................... 2
Rifle............................................................ 20
Zips’ Athletics.............................................. 4
Men’s Soccer............................................. 22
Men’s Basketball.......................................... 6
Women’s Soccer........................................ 24
Women’s Basketball..................................... 8
Softball...................................................... 26
Men’s Cross Country.................................. 10
Women’s Swimming & Diving................... 28
Women’s Cross Country............................ 12
Women’s Tennis......................................... 30
Football..................................................... 14
Men’s Track & Field.................................... 32
Men’s Golf................................................. 16
Women’s Track & Field.............................. 34
Women’s Golf............................................ 18
Women’s Volleyball.................................... 36
Larry Williams Director of Athletics
/AkronZips
2
/AkronAthletics
@AkronZips
/ZipsAthletics
GoZip s.com
3
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
WON THE 2015-16 REESE TROPHY AS THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE’S TOP MEN’S ATHLETICS PROGRAM uu MAC Champions
MEN’S BASKETBALL MEN’S SOCCER WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD 27 INDIVIDUALS: Men’s Golf, Women’s Golf, Swimming (7), Men’s Indoor Track (5), Men’s Outdoor Track (6), Women’s Indoor Track (7)
uu
2 NCAA Champions CLAYTON MURPHY
(800 meters indoor, 1500 meters outdoor) uu
18 All-Americans
uu
79 All-MAC
uu
135 Academic All-Conference (124 MAC, 11 Rifle)
uu
60 Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
uu Finished 21ST in the Capital One Cup men’s standings uu Finished 71ST in the Learfield Cup standings overall
4
uu
5 MAC Coaches of the Year
uu
3 Olympians SHAWN BARBER (pole vault) CLAYTON MURPHY (800 meters) ANNIKA ROLOFF (pole vault) FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
5
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
26-9 OVERALL • 13-5 MAC
uu Participated in the NIT (sixth appearance in NIT; 12TH postseason appearance overall, including 8 OF LAST 9 years) uu MAC regular-season CHAMPION uu MAC East CHAMPION uu
NO. 1 SEED | Advanced to MAC Tournament
uu
26 wins tied the most in school history
championship game
uu Received highest (28) NCAA RPI ranking uu Set school records in 3-pointers made in a season (409) and 3-pointers made in a game (20) uu
4 All-MAC honorees
uu
2 Academic All-MAC honorees
uu
2 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
uu MAC Coach of the Year
KEITH DAMBROT
uu MAC Sixth Man of the Year
ISAIAH JOHNSON
uu MAC Freshman of the Year
JOSH WILLIAMS
uu NABC First-team All-District Team
ISAIAH JOHNSON
uu NABC District 14 Coach of the Year
KEITH DAMBROT
6
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
7
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
19-14 OVERALL • 11-7 MAC
uu Participated in the WNIT (sixth postseason appearance overall; fourth consecutive) uu Won 19 games for a fourth consecutive season (a first in program history)
8
uu
2 All-MAC honorees
uu
4 Academic All-MAC honorees
uu
1 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
9
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
uu Participated in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional uu Finished SECOND at the MAC Championships uu
WON the Virginia Tech Alumni Invite
uu
2 All-MAC honorees
uu
6 Academic All-MAC honorees
uu
3 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
uu USTFCCCA All-Academic Team uu USTFCCCA Academic All-Americans
KYLE COCHRUN CLAYTON MURPHY
uu MAC Freshman of the Year
JOE ROSETTI
10
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
11
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
uu Participated in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional uu Finished 11TH at the MAC Championships uu
4 Academic All-MAC honorees
uu
3 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
uu USTFCCCA All-Academic Team
12
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
13
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
8-5 OVERALL • 5-3 MAC 2015 FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL CHAMPIONS uu Finished SECOND in MAC East uu First winning season since 2005 uu
FIRST BOWL WIN in FBS history (since 1987)
uu Second bowl appearance in school history uu Bowl exposure was worth more than $13 MILLION to the University [Joyce Julius Bowl Valuations] uu Bowl MVP
PK ROBERT STEIN
uu MAC Defensive Player of the Year
LB JATAVIS BROWN
uu
5 All-MAC honorees
uu
10 Academic All-MAC honorees
uu
5 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
14
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
15
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
uu Finished FIFTH at the MAC Championship uu Finished 2nd at the Firestone Invitational uu
1 All-MAC honoree
uu
3 Academic All-MAC honorees
uu
2 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
uu MAC Individual champion
GEORGE BAYLIS
uu NCAA participant
GEORGE BAYLIS (finished 43rd at NCAA Regional)
16
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
17
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
uu Finished SIXTH at the MAC Championship uu
WON the Roseann Schwartz Invitational
uu
1 All-MAC honorees
uu
3 Academic All-MAC honorees
uu MAC Individual champion
DANIELLE NICHOLSON
uu MAC Freshman of the Year
DANIELLE NICHOLSON
18
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
19
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
HOSTED THE 2016 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS, A FIRST FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON (ANY SPORT)
uu Finished SEVENTH at the Great America Rifle Conference championships uu
20
11 Scholastic All-Americans
(by Collegiate Rifle Golf Coaches Association)
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
21
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
18-3-3 OVERALL • 4-0-1 MAC uu 2015 NCAA COLLEGE CUP appearance (fourth appearance in school history)
uu
30TH NCAA Tournament appearance (15th consecutive)
uu MAC regular-season CHAMPION (18th overall, 11th consecutive) uu MAC tournament CHAMPION (12th in school history; fourth consecutive) uu Scholar All-American
MF ADAM NAJEM
uu
2 All-Americans MF ADAM NAJEM MF RICHIE LARYEA
uu
8 All-MAC honorees
uu
13 Academic All-MAC honorees
uu
8 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
22
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
23
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
6-13-2 OVERALL • 3-8 MAC uu ADVANCED to the MAC Tournament
BEGAN IN 2001
(fourth overall, first since 2011)
uu
TIED and ADVANCED
uu
ADVANCED to MAC semifinals (first appearance)
in a MAC tournament game (first time in program history)
uu Best start to a season (3-0-1 since 2011) uu
2 All-MAC honorees
uu
8 Academic All-MAC honorees
uu
2 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
uu
2 MAC All-Tournament Team
24
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
25
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
30-25-1 OVERALL • 11-10-1 MAC uu Advanced to the MAC Tournament (11th appearance, third consecutive) uu
MOST WINS since 2009
uu
3 All-MAC honorees
uu
4 Academic All-MAC honorees
uu
2 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
uu MAC Nan Harvey Award
P ERIN SEILER
uu MAC All-Tournament Team
SAVANNAH FRUIN GABRIELLE FREDERICKS
26
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
27
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
BEGAN IN 1999 uu
WON the 2016 MAC Championship
(third overall, third consecutive, a program first)
uu Individual participants in the NCAA Championship (first in program history)
7 All-MAC honorees uu 15 Academic All-MAC honorees uu 5 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes uu
uu MAC Coach of the Year
BRIAN PERESIE
uu MAC Diving Coach of the Year
CHRIS MEDVEDEFF
uu MAC Most Outstanding Senior Swimmer
HANNAH RASPOPOVICH
uu MAC Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Year
MADISON MYERS
uu MAC Freshman of the Year
MADISON MYERS
uu MAC Freshman Diver of the Year
KARLY CRAIL uu 7 individual MAC champions (individual and relay)
28
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
29
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
15-9 OVERALL • 5-3 MAC
uu Participated in the MAC Championship (sixth appearance, first since 2013)
2 All-MAC honorees uu 4 Academic All-MAC honorees uu uu
3 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
uu MAC Player of the Year
ARIADNA BLINOVA
30
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
31
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
INDOOR uu WON THE 2016 MAC CHAMPIONSHIP
OUTDOOR uu WON THE 2016 MAC CHAMPIONSHIP
uu NCAA champion
uu NCAA champion
CLAYTON MURPHY (800 meters,
first national champ in a running event in school history)
2 All-Americans CLAYTON MURPHY ALEX MCCUNE uu 10 All-MAC honorees (MURPHY 4X, SLONE 2X) uu 8 Academic All-MAC honorees uu 4 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes uu
uu MAC Coach of the Year
DENNIS MITCHELL uu 5 individual MAC champions uu MAC Most Outstanding Track Performer
CLAYTON MURPHY
CLAYTON MURPHY (1500 meters) uu 8 All-Americans CLAYTON MURPHY ALEX MCCUNE PHIL JAGERS TERRELL MCCLAIN, JOE ODUHO CURTIS RICHARDSON MATT ROWLAND CODY STINE uu 16 All-MAC honorees (MURPHY 3X) uu 9 Academic All-MAC honorees 4 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes uu 6 MAC champions (5 INDIVIDUAL (MURPHY 2X), 1 RELAY) uu
uu MAC Coach of the Year
DENNIS MITCHELL
32
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
33
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
INDOOR uu Finished SECOND at the 2016 MAC
OUTDOOR uu Finished SECOND at the 2016 MAC
uu All-Americans
uu
Championship
CLAUDIA GARCIA JOU ALEXIS COOKS JACKIE SIEFRING uu 8 All-MAC honorees (COOKS 2X) uu 12 Academic All-MAC honorees uu 7 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes uu 7 individual MAC champions uu MAC Most Outstanding Track Performer
JACKIE SIEFRING
34
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
Championship
3 All-Americans CLAUDIA GARCIA JOU CAROLINE HASSE JACKIE SIEFRING uu 1 Academic All-American CLAUDIA GARCIA JOU uu 8 All-MAC honorees uu 11 Academic All-MAC honorees uu
5 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes
uu MAC Most Valuable Performer
JACKIE SIEFRING
GoZip s.com
35
2015-16 ZIPS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
8-21 OVERALL • 2-14 MAC
uu Set school record for aces in a match (18 vs. Morehead State, 9/18/15)
8 Academic All-MAC honorees uu 4 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes uu
36
FO LLO W Z I P S AT H L E T I C S ON S OCI AL ME DIA:
GoZip s.com
37
PURCHASE SEASON TICKET PLANS OR RENEW YOUR SEATS
by calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting: The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 (at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) Business hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Z-Fund is the organization through which alumni, parents, friends, faculty and businesses can provide vital financial support to the student-athletes which comprise the 18 Intercollegiate Athletic Programs at the University of Akron. Membership into the Z-Fund means you are not only supporting Akron Athletics, but you are now a part of the team!