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Men’s cross country and football claim second in MIAA; women’s soccer posts 7 shutouts in 9-4-1 league season By Bobby Lee Albion College is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and NCAA Division III. Find Briton sports on the Web at: www.albion.edu/sports.
Men’s Cross Country: The men’s cross country team closed an outstanding season with an 18th-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships Nov. 22. Senior Nick Mockeridge was the first Albion runner to cross the finish line, coming in 52nd overall. The Britons had qualified for the Division III Championships by finishing second in the 32-team field assembled for the Great Lakes Regional meet Nov. 15. In the MIAA, they placed second behind Calvin for the second consecutive year. Mockeridge and junior Adam Dohm achieved first-team All-MIAA and all-region status. The duo took turns leading the Britons. Mockeridge was the first Albion runner to cross the finish line at the MIAA Jamboree in September (fourth overall with a time of 25
minutes, 41 seconds) and the MIAA Championships in November (seventh overall with a time of 25 minutes, 39 seconds). Dohm took the lead at the regional meet, finishing as the seventh individual with a time of 25 minutes, 43 seconds. Mockeridge and Dohm also benefited from an excellent supporting cast including seniors Taurean Wilson and Todd Falker, junior Ted Gast, sophomore Jay Puffpaff and first-year runner Noah Lopez. All five runners achieved second-team all-league status, and Gast and Lopez also claimed all-region awards by finishing among the top 35 individuals at the Great Lakes Regional. Wilson and Gast finished 16th and 17th, respectively at the MIAA Championships. Wilson’s time was 26 minutes, 17 seconds, with Gast just a second behind. Lopez completed Albion’s scoring, finishing 19th with a time of 26 minutes, 24 seconds. Although they did not figure in Albion’s team score at the MIAA Championships, Falker and Puffpaff finished 21st and 27th, respectively. Hayden Smith completed his third season as coach. N. STARKEY PHOTO
Linebackers Raymond Burton (#45) and Glen Brittich (#56) were named to the 2003 All-MIAA football team. Brittich was tabbed the league’s defensive MVP in addition to receiving firstteam laurels for the second straight year.
Nick Mockeridge (#37) and Adam Dohm (#42) achieved first-team All-MIAA and all-region status as members of the 2003 Briton cross country team. Mockeridge was the first Albion runner to cross the finish line at the MIAA Championships (seventh overall). Dohm took the lead at the Great Lakes Regional meet (also seventh overall).
Women’s Cross Country: Albion
Football: Albion played a dramatic
finished fourth in the MIAA, but a trio of first-year runners could be the foundation for future success. Alyson Howe achieved second-team AllMIAA honors by finishing 28th at the league jamboree in September and 16th at the league championships in November. Her best time in the MIAA meets was 20 minutes, 12 seconds at the jamboree. Sarah Heddon was Albion’s second runner to cross the finish line at the Great Lakes Regional meet. She finished the MIAA Championships and the regional with identical times of 25 minutes, 11 seconds. Mara Branoff was among Albion’s top five runners at the MIAA Championships and the Great Lakes regional. She completed the 6K regional course in 25 minutes, 20 seconds. The Britons also received senior leadership from Julie Kamer and Sarah Smith. Smith earned second-team all-league status, finishing 20th at the MIAA Championships with a time of 24 minutes, 33 seconds. Kamer was Albion’s top runner the first half of the season, but an injury hampered her performance late in the second half. Hayden Smith also serves as the women’s head coach.
season, with three of its six victories decided by a touchdown. Two of the victories went down to the final play, as the Britons sealed a 20-19 victory over Olivet when senior Andy Kocoloski blocked a game-winning field goal with eight seconds remaining, and, in the season finale, sophomore quarterback Steve Wasil completed a 44-yard aerial strike to first-year wide receiver Roman Starr to give Albion a 28-27 triumph over Hope. With a 4-2 record in league play, Albion tied for second place behind Hope in the final league standings. The squad was 6-4 overall. The Britons were led by a defense that ranked second in the MIAA in points allowed. Senior linebacker Glen Brittich was tabbed the league’s most valuable defensive player after averaging 13 tackles in the Britons’ six league games. For the entire 10-game season, Brittich was credited with 65 solo and 55 assisted tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception. Joining Brittich as first-team All-MIAA selections were senior defensive tackle Jared Smith, junior placekicker Andy Cline and sophomore punter Tyler Hunter. Smith, Albion’s third-leading tackler, also blocked a kick and intercepted a pass. Cline, who broke Albion’s record for most field goals in a career, split the uprights on 7 of 11 field goal