Grove City College Athletics - Freedom to Compete 2016

NCAA DIVISION III VARSITY ATHLETICS

The freedom to

COMPETE choose.gcc.edu/athletics

FACILITIES Students who participate in sports at Grove City College have access to some of the finest facilities in the Presidents' Athletic Conference for recreation, competition, practice, training and conditioning.

• Robert E. Thorn Field (football/track and field) • Walters-Zbell Tennis Courts • Grove City College Softball Field • R. Jack Behringer Field (baseball) • College Field (soccer) • Outdoor Intramural Fields • Phillips Field House (locker rooms, athletic training room, meeting rooms and coaches’ offices)

• Physical Learning Center – Grove City College Arena (basketball and volleyball) – James E. Longnecker Pool (water polo, swimming and diving) – Recreation Pool – State-of-the-art Fitness Room and Weight Room – 4 Basketball Courts – 4 Tennis Courts – 4 Volleyball Courts – I ndoor Track – Jumping and Pole Vaulting Pits – 6 Racquetball Courts – 8 Lane Bowling Facility

20% STUDENT BODY

PARTICIPATE IN A VARSITY SPORT

119 ALL-TIME

ALL-AMERICANS

45 ALL-TIME

CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS

253 ALL-TIME

CONFERENCE TITLES

A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

1884

# 1892

1933

1955

Our first intercollegiate sporting event, and victory, occurs with the baseball team’s 4-3 win over Westminster.

Intercollegiate football begins and becomes the College’s oldest continually-sponsored sport.

Grove City College Women’s Athletic Association forms to promote athletic competition and physical activity.

Men’s Cross Country begins.

1898

1935

Men’s Basketball begins.

Men’s Golf begins.

1906

1937

Men’s Track & Field begins.

Men’s Swimming and Diving begins.

1914 Men’s Tennis begins.

# 1957 Running back Tom “Jake” LaMotta becomes the College’s first modern-day All-American when he is honored by the Williamson Rating System.

1938 Men’s Soccer begins.

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or more than 100 years, Grove City College student-athletes have brought the slogan “STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE” to life through hard work and dedication — in the classroom, in their athletic endeavors and in their faith. When you put on the crimson and white uniform, you become a part of that rich and storied legacy. We are looking for student-athletes who have that same commitment to ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE — and who are also strong leaders, have excellent character and outstanding integrity.

Prospective students always want to know if they can PARTICIPATE IN ATHLETICS AND STILL EXCEL IN THEIR STUDIES . The answer to that is easy — yes! That’s exactly what our student-athletes do.

In 2015-16, we had 97 athletes qualify for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll. Senior cross country runner Emily Rabenold became a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American – the 11th Wolverine to earn such honors multiple times – while senior football player Brandon Berringer and junior swimmer/water polo player Abby Jank became the 44th and 45th Academic All-Americans in the College’s history. The 2015-16 year marked the 14th consecutive academic year in which at least one Grove City student-athlete has earned Academic All-America laurels.

So ask yourself “Would I like to play and pursue excellence in THE SPORT THAT I LOVE; RECEIVE AN EDUCATION THAT WILL CHALLENGE, INSPIRE AND PREPARE ME FOR THE FUTURE; AND FREELY EXPRESS MY FAITH? ”

If this is the college experience you’re looking for, then Grove City College is the place for you.

1974

> 1981

Women’s Tennis begins.

Volleyball player Natalie Sutyak becomes the first woman at Grove City College to earn All-America honors.

1976 3 1960 Rifle team member Ruth (Bogert ’63) Wible becomes the first woman to earn a varsity letter.

1973 Women’s Volleyball begins, marking the start of women’s varsity sports at Grove City College.

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Women’s Basketball begins and the College becomes a charter member of the Women’s Keystone Conference, the first women’s athletic conference for private colleges in western Pennsylvania.

Chris van de Mark captures the College’s first NCAA Division III national championship titles, winning in 1- and 3-meter diving.

1980 Women’s Softball begins.

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The freedom to EXCEL ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEMBERSHIP Grove City College is a member of the NCAA Division III, the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC), the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).

The Presidents’ Athletic Conference shares the same belief we do — that athletics is an integral part of the collegiate experience and not an entity unto itself. The PAC awards its women’s and men’s All-Sports Trophies to the college or university that produces the best overall performance in the 21 sports sponsored by the conference. Since 1989, Grove City has won the women’s All-Sports Trophy 17 times.

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WOLVERINES

NUMBER OF VARSITY TEAMS WOMENS: BASKETBALL | CROSS COUNTRY | GOLF | SOCCER | SOFTBALL | SWIMMING & DIVING | TENNIS | INDOOR TRACK & FIELD | OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD | VOLLEYBALL | WATER POLO MENS: BASEBALL | BASKETBALL | CROSS COUNTRY | FOOTBALL | GOLF | LACROSSE (2018) | SOCCER | SWIMMING & DIVING | TENNIS | INDOOR TRACK & FIELD | OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD

STUDENT

ATHLETES

1985

< 2000

# 2006

Women’s Volleyball finishes the regular season with a 41-0 record and No. 1 national ranking. Head coach Susan Roberts is named Division III Coach of the Year.

The Washington Nationals select pitcher Erik Arnesen in the 17th round of the Major League Baseball draft.

Women’s Swimming & Diving begins.

Running back R.J. Bowers becomes college football’s all-time leading rusher with 7,353 yards and earns the Melberger Award as the top NCAA Division III player.

Bowers went on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.

1992

2000

Women’s Soccer begins.

Women’s Water Polo begins.

1986 Women’s Cross Country begins.

1987 Women’s Track & Field begins.

1988

1996 Women’s Golf begins.

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MEN’S

FOOTBALL The Grove City College football program has consistently ranked among the conference’s elite since joining the league in 1984. In 2012, the team led the conference in total defense for the second time in a three-year span. The Wolverines also led the nation in fewest penalties committed during the 2012 season.

COACH:

Andrew DiDonato ’10

Andrew DiDonato is entering his first season as Grove City College’s head football coach. A 2010 graduate of the College, DiDonato returned as Grove City’s offensive coordinator in January 2015 after two years as the offensive coordinator at South Fayette High School, where he helped the Lions to consecutive PIAA Class AA state titles. A four-year starter at quarterback for the Wolverines, DiDonato graduated as the Grove City record holder in nearly every passing category.

E M A IL : PHONE:

ajdidonato@gcc.edu (724) 264-4708

2007

2009

2012

2014

The inaugural class of honorees is inducted into the newly created Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Athletic Heritage Award is created and presented in conjunction with the Hall of Fame.

College Arena is renovated, including replacing the original floor. The College’s other athletic facilities also undergo major upgrades.

Men's and Women's indoor track & field added.

> 2008 Two-time national champion swimmer Caleb Courage competes in the United States Olympic Trials. He returns in 2009 to win his third NCAA Division III title in the 100-yard freestyle.

2013

# 2018 Men's lacrosse to become 22nd varsity sport.

Swimmer Angela Palumbo concludes her career as a 21-time NCAA Division III All-American, becoming the most decorated athlete in College history. She is also the first two-time GCC Sportswoman of the Year.

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WOMEN’S

SOFTBALL The softball program owns four Presidents’ Athletic Conference championships and has produced numerous standout players. Four former players have been inducted into the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2015, recent graduate Kelsey Shirey (left) became the first player in program history to earn Presidents’ Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors.

COACH:

Kristen Hughes-Cramer

A 2008 Grove City College graduate, Kristen Hughes-Cramer enters her third season as head softball coach after spending the previous five seasons as the Wolverines’ assistant coach. In her first year as head coach, she led the Wolverines to their first winning season since 2011 and their most conference wins in 17 years. A four-year starter from 2005-2008, Hughes-Cramer was an All-PAC honoree in 2007 after leading the team in hitting, runs, total bases and on-base percentage.

E M A IL : PHONE:

kmhughescramer@gcc.edu (724) 450-1531

MEN’S

BASEBALL With a proud history that dates back to 1884, the Grove City College baseball program has taken that tradition to even greater heights in recent years. The 2016 Wolverines established a new program record with 27 wins, returned to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Tournament and concluded their season by winning the ECAC Division III Southwest Championship Tournament.

COACH:

Matt Royer

After serving as interim head coach in 2016, Matt Royer returns for his first full year with the Wolverine baseball program. He guided Grove City to a program-record 27 wins, a 15-9 conference record, and the 2016 ECAC D-III Southwest title. His successful 20-year college coaching career includes stops at Wheaton (Ill.), Kutztown and Liberty, and he has compiled a 497-383 record at four-year institutions. Additionally, Royer has had eight players selected in the MLB’s First-Year Player Draft.

E M A IL : PHONE:

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msroyer@gcc.edu (724) 458-2122

WOMEN’S

BASKETBALL With more than 400 all-time victories, six conference championships, seven postseason appearances and 12 1,000-point scorers, the Grove City College women’s basketball program boasts a rich history of success.

Twelve former players have been inducted into the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

COACH:

Chelle Fuss

Chelle Fuss is in her fourth season as head women’s basketball coach and her 11th overall with the program. She has led Grove City to a 21-15 conference record over the past two seasons and a PAC Tournament Semifinal appearance in 2015. Fuss spent seven seasons as an assistant prior to taking over as head coach in 2013.

E M A IL : PHONE:

lmfuss@gcc.edu (724) 458-2130

MEN’S

From its inception in 1898 through the 21st century, the Grove City College men’s basketball program owns an unparalleled legacy of excellence in the region. The team has captured more than 1,200 all-time victories and produced 26 1,000-point scorers, along with seven Presidents’ Athletic Conference titles.

COACH:

Steve Lamie

A 1985 magna cum laude graduate of Grove City College, Steve Lamie enters his 19th season as the Wolverines’ head coach. He has guided the team to four conference titles, seven postseason berths and national and regional acclaim in several statistical categories.

E M A IL : PHONE:

sslamie@gcc.edu (724) 458-3866

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WOMEN’S

MEN’S

CROSS COUNTRY Women’s Cross Country The women’s cross country team has gained prominence in the conference, in the Mideast Region and on the national landscape. Since 1989, the team has won 27 consecutive conference championships. In 2010, Grove City College qualified for the NCAA Championships as a team.

Men’s Cross Country The men’s cross country team has a legacy of tremendous success in the PAC and on the national stage. The team has won 18 conference championships since 1990 and has routinely finished among the region’s top programs every year.

COACH:

Sean Severson

Sean Severson is in his 13th season as the head men’s and women’s cross country coach. The women’s team has won the Presidents’ Athletic Conference title in each of his 11 years and the men have won six conference crowns in that span. In addition, Severson has coached 13 runners to qualify for nationals and four to NCAA DIII All-America honors.

E M A IL : PHONE:

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skseverson@gcc.edu (724) 458-2123

WOMEN’S

MEN’S

GOLF Women’s Golf Success has been synonymous with the program since its inception — the women won the conference championship in its inaugural season in 1996. Since then, the team has gone on to win nine conference titles and made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Championships in 2014.

Men’s Golf The men’s golf team has a history of success that includes five conference championships and numerous other notable top tournament finishes. In 2016, the Wolverines reclaimed the PAC title for the first time since 2000 and made their first ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Championships. The team plays at at nearby Grove City Country Club.

COACH:

Melissa Lamie

Melissa Lamie is entering her 11th year as the head men’s and women’s golf coach. She has led the women’s golf team to PAC titles in three of the last six seasons while directing the Wolverine men to their first title since 2000 last season, earning four total PAC Coach of the Year honors. Under her guidance, Grove City’s women made their first ever NCAA Championships appearance in 2014 while the men earned their first national berth this past year. Grove City players have won the league’s women’s golf Player of the Year award in five of the last six seasons while she has also coached 14 men to All-PAC honors.

E M A IL : PHONE:

mdlamie@gcc.edu (724) 458-2128

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WOMEN’S

SOCCER The women’s soccer program has emerged as a dominant force in the conference and the region, having earned nine postseason berths since 2000. The team has also won five conference titles, and the program advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship Tournament in 2012.

COACH:

Melissa Lamie

Melissa Lamie is in her 24th season as the women’s soccer head coach. Coach Lamie has directed the team to 250 victories, five Presidents’ Athletic Conference championships and three invitations to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

She is the winningest women’s soccer coach in Presidents’ Athletic Conference history.

E M A IL : PHONE:

mdlamie@gcc.edu (724) 458-2128

MEN’S

For 75 years, excellence has defined the Grove City College men’s soccer program.

A perennial small-college powerhouse in the region, the Wolverines have recorded more than 500 all-time wins, while also producing five All-Americans and 20 All-Region performers. The team has earned 12 postseason invitations.

COACH:

Mike Dreves

Mike Dreves is entering his 11th season as head men’s soccer coach. In his first 10 seasons, Dreves has guided the Wolverines to nine Presidents’ Athletic Conference Tournament appearances and five ECAC Tournament berths. A 1997 Grove City College graduate, Coach Dreves earned four letters as a player from 1993-96. He captained the 1995 and 1996 teams and helped lead the Wolverines to the 1996 PAC and ECAC titles.

E M A IL : PHONE:

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mfdreves@gcc.edu (724) 458-2151

WOMEN’S

MEN’S

SWIMMING & DIVING Women’s Swimming & Diving Grove City College’s women’s swimming and diving team competes in the James E. Longnecker Pool, one of the nation’s top small-college aquatic facilities. The program has flourished in that venue, capturing eight consecutive league titles and producing 17 all-time NCAA Division III All-Americans.

Grove City placed in the top 11 nationally in four-straight seasons from 2010-2013.

Men’s Swimming & Diving The Grove City College men’s swimming & diving program continues to cement its place among the nation’s small-college elite with five all-time NCAA national champions, 58 NCAA All-Americans and 26 conference championships, including titles in six of the last nine years.

COACH:

Dave Fritz

A 1994 Grove City College graduate, Dave Fritz is in his 15th season as head men’s swimming & diving coach and his eighth season as women’s head coach. His teams have captured a combined 14 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships, and 26 swimmers have earned NCAA All-America honors under his guidance.

E M A IL : P H O NE :

dcfritz@gcc.edu (724) 458-2110

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WOMEN’S

MEN’S

TENNIS Women’s Tennis Grove City College has been the conference’s pre-eminent program, winning 28 conference titles since 1985, including consecutive league crowns in 2014 and 2015. The program has also made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament, returning in 2015 after a three-year absence.

Men’s Tennis The Grove City men’s tennis team has dominated the conference for more than three decades. Grove City has won 26 league crowns since 1991 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last six seasons.

COACH:

Jeff Buxton

Jeff Buxton is entering his fifth season as the head men’s and women’s tennis coach. Coach Buxton is also an assistant professor of physical education and exercise science. He has guided the men’s team to four straight conference championships and NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in his first three seasons and led the women’s team to reclaim the PAC crown and return to the NCAA Tournament in 2014-15. Under his guidance, Grove City players have earned a total of four PAC Player of the Year honors.

E M A IL : PHONE:

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jdbuxton@gcc.edu (724) 458-2125

WOMEN’S

MEN’S

INDOOR /OUTDOOR

TRACK & FIELD Women’s Track & Field With 11 total Presidents’ Athletic Conference titles to its credit, including the 2014 and 2015 outdoor crowns and the inaugural PAC Indoor title in 2015, the Grove City College women’s track & field program continues to excel. Numerous team members qualify annually for the ECAC Division III Track and Field Championships.

Men’s Track & Field The men’s track & field team has dominated the conference, winning 19 titles, including back-to-back outdoor crowns in 2014 and 2015, and producing several other top finishes since 1986.

Numerous team members qualify annually for the ECAC Division III Track & Field Championships.

COACH:

Todd Gibson

Todd Gibson is in his seventh season as the head men’s and women’s track & field coach after serving as an assistant for two years. He guided both the Wolverine men’s and women’s teams to Presidents’ Athletic Conference outdoor titles in both 2014 and 2015. In addition, 14 Grove City athletes have won individual event conference titles under Gibson’s direction. Gibson also serves as the head coach for both the men's and women's indoor track & field teams.

E M A IL : PHONE:

tdgibson@gcc.edu (724) 458-2147

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WOMEN’S

VOLLEYBALL Since the volleyball team’s inception, it has been the conference’s flagship program; first the Women’s Keystone Conference (1976-85) and now the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (1985-present). Grove City College owns 18 all-time conference titles and 13 all-time postseason appearances.

COACH:

Erin Street

Erin Street is entering her third season as head volleyball coach at Grove City College. In her second year as head coach, she led the Wolverines to an 11-7 conference record – the most conference wins in 28 years – and the team’s first home PAC Tournament home match since 2007. Before arriving at Grove City, Street spent the previous eight seasons as a member of the coaching staff at nearby Slippery Rock, including five as the head assistant. As a player, she was a standout setter at NCAA DII Wheeling Jesuit.

E M A IL : PHONE:

ekstreet@gcc.edu (724) 458-2129

WOMEN’S

WATER POLO Introduced at Grove City College in 2000, women’s water polo has lived up to the school’s commitment to excellence, earning CWPA Division III Conference titles in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The team finished the 2012 season with the best single-season mark in program history. In 2013, Grove City College earned the CWPA Division III regular season title.

COACH:

Alyssa Hunt

Alyssa Hunt is entering her third year as head women’s water polo coach at Grove City College. She also serves as the assistant swimming & diving coach. In her first season as head coach, Hunt led Grove City to a 7-11 overall record and a fourth-place finish at the CWPA Division III Championships and coached Jocelyn Hinkle to ACWPC DIII All-America honors. Hunt came to Grove City after a standout playing career at California Baptist University, and she also worked as an assistant coach for the Alberta Water Polo Association’s provincial team from June 2010 to August 2013.

E M A IL : PHONE:

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aabirch@gcc.edu (724) 450-4013

WOMEN’S

MEN’S

CHEERLEADING For more than 100 years, the cheerleading program has been an integral part of Grove City College and its athletic program. The College currently sponsors a co-ed squad that is involved in many campus activities throughout the school year — home football and basketball games, recruiting functions and alumni events. Willie the Wolverine, the official mascot, is a highlight at these events.

COACH:

Kelly Habarka

Kelly Habarka is entering her 13th year as the cheerleading advisor. The program has flourished under her guidance in both squad size and on-campus involvement. She holds certifications from the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches & Administrators (AACCA) and the National Council for Spirit Safety and Education (NCSSE).

E M A IL : PHONE:

kahabarka@gcc.edu (724) 456-9115

MEN’S

LACROSSE Grove City College announced it will elevate its highly-successful men's club lacrosse program to varsity status, starting with the 2017-18 academic year. The College will field its inaugural NCAA Division III varsity team in 2018 as a member of the Ohio River Lacrosse Conference (ORLC), a joint venture between the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

“For many years, the men’s lacrosse team at the College enjoyed a high level of success as a club sport program competing in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association,” said Grove City College athletic director Todd Gibson '02. “As the College’s club lacrosse team has grown over the years, we’ve seen increased interest in our ability to offer our student-athletes additional opportunities to compete at an even higher level.” As a member of the ORLC, Grove City will be immediately eligible for the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

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Office of Admissions 100 Campus Drive Grove City, PA 16127–2104 P. (724) 458-2100 F. (724) 458-3395

admissions@gcc.edu gcc.edu/admissions choose.gcc.edu/athletics

NCAA DIVISION III VARSITY ATHLETICS

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