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Bearcats claim third national championship
Hoops Highlights
Although the Northwest
men’s basketball team was unable to qualify for the MIAA tournament for the second straight year, the outlook for the Bearcats is promising as freshman guard DeShaun Cooper was named MIAA Freshman of the Year as voted on by the league’s head men’s basketball coaches. Cooper, who led the Bearcats with 39 steals and had a freshman-record 107 assists,
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orthwest running back LaRon Council ran for 172 yards and Jake Soy caught a 26-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to lead the Bearcats to a 30-23 win against Grand Valley State in the NCAA Division II national championship game Dec. 12 in Florence, Ala. It’s the third championship for Northwest (14-1) and the first since 1999. It also ends a string of four national runner-up finishes. The Bearcats are the only team to play in five straight championship games. Bearcat coach Mel Tjeerdsma’s 29 postseason victories are a Division II record. “I’m thrilled for these guys. We’ve worked so hard for this and we’ve prepared hard. This was our goal. We probably didn’t look like much in week one, but these guys have come a long way,” Tjeerdsma said following the game. “It was a
total team effort, and that’s what this football team is all about. They believe in each other. Our theme all year has been one-eleventh. We have 11 guys out there and everybody must do their job, and I’m thrilled for them.” Visit www.NorthwestBearcats.com for complete coverage of the Bearcats’ stellar season, including a photo gallery from every game and a rundown of an impressive list of post-season honors bestowed upon both the coaches and players. n
is the third Northwest player to receive the award and the second in four seasons. First-year Bearcat head coach Ben McCollum’s squad closed its season at 12-15 overall and 7-13 in the MIAA.
On the women’s side,
During the Northwest Alumni Association’s postgame celebration, players proudly displayed the national championship trophy to Bearcat fans. A “trophy tour” this winter also allowed alumni and friends in Arizona, Omaha, Kansas City, Des Moines and St. Joseph to meet Coach Mel Tjeerdsma and view the prized hardware. (Left) LaRon Council busts through a Grand Valley State defender. The senior from Kansas City, who was named the MIAA’s Most Valuable Offensive Player, ran for 1,782 yards and scored 22 touchdowns during the 2009 season.
Northwest center Gentry Dietz was named first-team all-MIAA by the league’s coaches. The junior was fourth in the league in scoring (15.5) and led the MIAA in rebounds (8.4) and blocks (2.0) and is the first Bearcat since Sarah Vollertsen in 2004 to be honored as a first-team selection. Coach Gene Steinmeyer’s team
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saw its season conclude with a loss to top-seeded Washburn in the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament. Northwest ended its 20092010 campaign ranked fifth in the conference with a 14-15 overall record. n
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SPRING 2010
Cheerleaders also bring home nation’s top title orthwest’s cheerleading team claimed its first national championship in January at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. The Bearcats bested second-place Slippery Rock and eighttime defending champion West Georgia, which placed third. Northwest pulled off a near-flawless routine while being judged on partner stunts, pyramids,
N O RTH W E S T A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E
basket tosses, tumbling and a cheer section. For the fourth year in a row, the Bearcats earned all 15 points on its crowd tape score, which is based on what the team does at home football and basketball games. Northwest’s mascot, Bobby Bearcat, placed third and the Bearcat steppers placed sixth. All three Bearcat squads are coached by Jason Sack. n