Fall 2016 Colonels Insider

Insider

Welcome To the Centre family

Centre welcomed over 180 recruited student-athletes to campus as part of the record-breaking class of 2020

A Look at Centre College’s Intercollegiate Athletics Department Fall 2016

WELCOME TO THE CENTRE FAMILY

Cal Lewellyn

Nick Mazzarella

Louisville, KY

Danielson, CT

Peyton Vacala

Stephanie Keller Louisville, KY

Savannah, GA

In late August, Centre College welcomed a record-breaking class of first-year students, with over 400 stepping foot on campus to begin their collegiate endeavors. The class came from far and wide, with over half of the incoming students coming from outside of Kentucky for the first time in Centre’s history. It was also an extremely accomplished group academically, with 62 percent ranked in the top-10 percent of their high school classes and a median ACT score of 29.

The recruiting efforts of Centre’s coaches were paramount in this group’s introduction and ultimate arrival at Centre. Over 180 first-year students, or 46 percent of the class, were recruited student-athletes. The group includes students representing 25 different states, from Prospect, Maine to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Fort Worth, Texas, to Los Angeles, California to Cedarburg, Wisconsin and, of course, Danville, Kentucky. The group also includes students from the District of Columbia and multiple countries.

Football’s efforts alone helped introduce Centre to over 40 young men. Men’s lacrosse welcomes 13 students from seven different states, while volleyball’s freshman class hails entirely from out of state, with five different states represented.

DID YOU KNOW? Among Centre’s nearly 600 student-athletes, 37 different states are represented For information on supporting the praying colonels fund, visit centrecolonels.com/pcfund or call Andrew Gavin at 859.238.5872.

CENTRE ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016 • INDUCTED ON OCTOBER 22, 2016 Molly Alvey ’01 lettered for the Colonels for four years in both basketball and volleyball.

Alvey owns the second and third highest single-season three-point percentages in SCAC history, ranking fourth in the nation after shooting 45.6% as a senior in 2001. Alvey was an All-SCAC player in 2001, a season that saw the Colonels win the conference title and advance to the NCAA Sweet 16. As a volleyball player, Alvey was All-SCAC in 1999 and 2000 and is second in program history with 4,340 career assists. Alvey went on to become a successful volleyball coach, serving as the assistant coach at the University of Mississippi before becoming the head coach at the University of Houston. Alvey currently serves as the head volleyball coach at the University of Cincinnati.

Brian Britt ’01 was a four-year letterwinner for Centre in both basketball and football. Britt is the most decorated return specialist in Centre football history, earning the SCAC Special Teams Player of the Year in 1999, 2000 and 2001 and All-America honors in 2001 as a senior. Britt's three punt return touchdowns in 2001 are a Centre single season record.

Britt was selected to the SCAC 15th Anniversary team as a punt returner. As a basketball player, Britt was an All-SCAC performer as a senior in 2001. Britt was also a member of Centre's track and field team, earning All-SCAC honors in 1998 and helping set a record in the 4x100 relay in 2000 that still stands today.

Reggie Magnusson ’06 lettered for three years for the Centre men's basketball team. A native of Reykjavik, Iceland, Magnusson was the SCAC Newcomer of the Year in 2004, All-SCAC in 2005 and was named the SCAC Player of the Year in 2006. Magnusson was a third team D-III News All-American in his senior campaign of 2006 and was the first All-American for Centre men's basketball since David Hicks in 1991, also the first Centre All-American recruited by head coach Greg Mason. Centre posted a 57-23 record in Magnusson's three years with the program, jump starting one of the greatest runs of winning in Centre history. Magnusson was the 23rd player in Centre history to record 1,000 career points, finishing his Centre tenure with 1,147 points in three years.

Ed Rall ’71 was a four-year letterwinner for the Colonels in both baseball and football. Rall earned All-CAC honors in baseball for the 1968, 1970 and 1971 seasons. After his playing career at Centre ended, Rall moved into the coaching profession, starting locally as head football and baseball coach at Boyle County High School during the 1970s and 80s. In 1988, Rall returned to his alma mater, where he joined the football coaching staff. Rall would remain an assistant football coach at Centre until 1999. Rall also became Centre's baseball coach in 1989 and held that position until 2004, including coaching current Centre baseball coach Drew Briese ’00. Rall's 2001 team set the Centre baseball program record for most regular season wins. In addition, Rall served as Centre's sports information director from 1999-2004.

COLONELS IN THE COMMUNITY

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1. In September, which is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, Centre hosted Gold Out Week on campus.

Throughout multiple athletics events during the week of Sept. 18-24, Centre Athletics worked to raise funds and awareness for pediatric cancer and welcomed special guests inflicted by the disease. Through the sale of Gold Out t-shirts, a raffle and an auction, nearly $3,000 was raised for the Kids Cancer Alliance and Camp Horsin’ Around.

2. For the second-straight year, Farris Stadium stayed busy over Centre College’s fall break, hosting the Special Olympics Kentucky regional flag football tournament. Multiple teams and more than 100 athletes took the field for a total of 12 games as the teams prepared for the Special Olympics Kentucky’s state tournament. Members of the men’s lacrosse program and the entire women’s basketball team spent the day cheering on the athletes while also serving in a variety of roles, including serving as officials, public address announcers and scoreboard operators, providing play-by-play calls and handing out awards.

3. Partnering with local sponsor Webster Orthodontics, Centre Athletics launched a new initiative this fall with the creation of the Colonels Kids Club. Since its launch in September, the Kids Club has had 75-plus kids register, and more than 50 members attended the inaugural Colonels Kids Club Weekend on Oct. 8-9. Webster Orthodontics is owned and operated by Dr. Will Webster ‘01.

4. On Sunday, Sept. 11, members of the Centre baseball and softball teams had a day that they will never forget, spending the day with the Overcomers, a local special needs baseball league. The Overcomers are a group located in Mercer County with players ranging from age 3-30 participating from seven surrounding counties. The organization was created with the primary goal of giving special needs children and adults the ability to participate in regular activities. Money donated to the Overcomers will go into the construction of a completely accessible baseball and softball field, as well as a playground.