ENMU Athletics News

By Adam Pitterman

University Tabs Waggoner as New Athletic Director

ENMU President, Dr. Steven Gamble, has announced the selection of Dr. Greg Waggoner as the University’s new athletic director. Waggoner brings plenty of experience to the position, having served at Western State Colorado University for 20 years.

Dr. Greg Waggoner, ENMU’s new Athletic Director

“Greg Waggoner is an excellent addition to the University,” said Gamble. “He has a sustained record of successful leadership and I feel certain he will be an outstanding athletic director.”

During his time with Western State Colorado, the University won 11 NCAA division two national team championships, 97 national “top ten” team finishes, and 32 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) team championships. The University also placed in the “Top 44” of the NCAA DII Director’s Cup standings for 19 straight years, an amazing run.

In addition to these athletic accomplishments, Western State student-athletics maintained graduation rates higher than the school’s general student population and 11 were named Academic All- American honorees.

Waggoner also helped secure and oversaw over $37 million in athletic faculty improvements, and was involved in numerous community initiatives including as President of the NCAA Division II Athletic Director’s Association for two years. He holds a doctorate in sports management from the University of Northern Colorado.

Dr. Waggoner states: “I am honored to be provided this exciting opportunity. It is very clear that the culture at ENMU is very attractive and collegial, which reflects well on President Gamble’s leadership. I feel fortunate to step into the big shoes that Dr. Jeff Geiser leaves. His leadership has positioned Greyhound Athletics extremely well for his successor. My career has been committed to the education and personal development of student-athletics for over 35 years and my commitment will remain as I embark on this journey.”

Waggoner replaces Dr. Jeff Geiser, who is retiring after seven years as the ENMU Athletic Director.

Greyhounds Register Academic Excellence

For the 2015-16 academic year, former ENMU athletic director Dr. Jeff Geiser announced a major accomplishment on behalf of the Greyhound student athletes. The Hounds closed the year with a collective grade point average of higher than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

“This is outstanding and a true representation of the ‘student’ in student athlete,” said Geiser.

The cumulative student-athlete GPA stood at 3.001, with the women’s combined GPA closing at 3.303 and the men’s teams combined for 2.698. The women’s cross country team led the way at 3.533, with volleyball close behind at 3.486. On the men’s side, the baseball team finished with a combined GPA of 2.925, and men’s soccer followed with 2.815. Eastern also had six student athletes earn Academic All-LSC honors, and junior Courtney Lawson from the volleyball team was an Academic All-District selection.

“Congratulations to Coach Kcholi and women’s cross country and all of our women Greyhound teams for achieving team GPAs above 3.0,” said Geiser. “And also to Coach Gomez and baseball for leading the way on the men’s side.”

Track and Field Registers Best Season of NCAA Era

In late May, six members of ENMU’s track and field team reached the NCAA Championships, tripling the number of athletes that ENMU has ever sent to the championship event.

The quartet of Avery Rasher, Justin Rocha, Jacques Hall, and Julian Clark- Coronado were the first relay team for ENMU to compete at an NCAA Championship event. Their seventhplace finish with 40.58 qualified them for All-American honors, and was the top finish in any event for Eastern at an NCAA championship meet.

Lone Star Conference rivals, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M- Commerce placed third and fifth.

St. Augustine won the event with a time of 39.41. Eastern’s 4x100m relay team was the only one competing with multiple freshman.

Clark-Coronado also placed 12th in the men’s 200-meter sprint, while senior Klaudia Szych made a return trip to the championships and was 19th in the 800-meter run.

“We couldn’t ask for a better end to the season,” said coach Danielle Kcholi. “We’re excited to see what next year has in store for us.”

NCAA Infractions Report

From 2008-12 ENMU was found to have failed to monitor eligibility certifications for student-athletes. The NCAA requires all institutions to uphold their bylaws and the institutional policies in reference to academic eligibility for studentathletes. All sports were affected in the area of initial eligibility determination as several athletes practiced, competed, and received aid and travel benefits without the proper certification from the NCAA Eligibility Center. As a result, the institution has been placed on probation for four years from Sept. 2015 through Aug. 2019.

Rodeo Team Wraps Up Season at National Finals

ENMU junior Lindsey Adcock ropes during practice.

Junior Lindsey Adcock concluded the rodeo team’s competition at the 2016 College National Finals with a score of 8.1 in the third round of goat tying, placing her in 30th and ranking her 19th in the goat-tying standings with an average of 22.1. Junior Tawny Barry finished close behind in 23rd place, while sophomore Sid Hart ranked 31st in steer wrestling with an average of 20.6.

Klaudia Szych: Cross Country

By Robert Graham

“Country music grew on me,” says Klaudia Szych (BS 16).

Klaudia is originally from Szczecin, Poland. Two and half hours away from Berlin, Germany and the Baltic Sea, Szczecin sits in the northwest corner of Poland with a population of around 400,000 residents.

“Szczecin is a far more vertical city versus the spaciousness of New Mexico,” Klaudia explained.

Klaudia began her collegiate career at New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) and continued at Eastern after she initiated a conversation with cross country coach Danielle Kcholi. That conversation led not only to a cross country scholarship, but also one for track and field.

At ENMU Klaudia belongs to a rich tradition of international cross country and track athletics with the likes of New Zealander Rex Maddaford (BBE 73) and Kenyan Mike Boit (BA 76).

Klaudia credits her father with introducing her to running, as he was an 800 and 1500 meter runner whose passion today is marathons.

“For International Women’s Day, my father organized a run in which 1,700 women participated in my hometown; he was also responsible for bringing Szczecin its first marathon last year,” says Klaudia.

A Biology, Pre-Medicine major, science is Klaudia’s second passion after running. The drive and pursuit of excellence that she exhibits on the track is the same that she exhibits in the laboratory. Orthopedic surgery, trauma surgery or forensic pathology are three areas of future interest.

Thriving in another country, Klaudia is exemplar of balanced, student success.