DATE
EVENT/SITE
Sat., Sept. 14
Knight Invitational/Grand Rapids, Mich.
TIME
10 a.m. Fri., Sept. 20
National Catholic Invitational/South Bend, Ind. 4:15 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 4
Lansing Community College Invitational/Lansing, Mich. 2 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 11
Bethel College Invitational/Mishawaka, Ind.
5 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 12
NAIA National Preview/Lawrence, Kan.
TBA
Sat., Oct. 26
NAIA Great Lakes Invitational/Grand Rapids, Mich.
Noon
Sat., Nov. 9
WHAC Championship/Grand Rapids, Mich.
TBA
Sat., Nov. 23
NAIA National Championships/Lawrence, Kan.
TBA
AQUINAS COLLEGE GENERAL INFORMATION
AFFILIATION: NAIA Division II CONFERENCE: Wolverine-Hoosier (WHAC) 2012 National Meet: 5th Place
LOCATION: Grand Rapids, Michigan FOUNDED: 1886 NICKNAME: Saints COLORS: Maroon/Grey PRESIDENT: Dr. Juan Olivarez ENROLLMENT: 2,518 students STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 15:1
SPORTS INFORMATION AND ATHLETICS
SAINTS CROSS COUNTRY HEAD COACH: Mike Wojciakowski (16th Season) ASSISTANT COACH: Paige Boldt (1st Season)
SPORTS INFO DIRECTOR: Mike Wojciakowski SID PHONE: 616-632-2482 WEB-SITES: www.aquinas.edu, www.whac.net MEDIA GUIDE: Linda Nash VARSITY SPORTS: 22 ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: Terry Bocian ATHLETIC PHONE: 616-632-2474 FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE: Gary Karasinski
2013 Schedule
Inside Cover
Table of Contents/Quick Facts
1
Aquinas College
2
Grand Rapids, MI
3
Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC)
4-5
Roster
6
Season Preview
7
Head Coach Mike Wojciakowski
8
Assistant Coach Paige Boldt
8
Meet the Team
9
1
Aquinas College, an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic and Dominican traditions, provides a liberal arts education with a global perspective, emphasizes career preparation focused on leadership and service to others, and fosters a commitment to lifelong learning dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the common good.
2
Located on the eastern edge of Grand Rapids, Aquinas' location allows students to reap the benefits of living in Michigan's second largest city. With over one million people in the greater metropolitan area, Grand Rapids plays host to numerous festivals, concerts and cultural events each year. Residing on 107 wooded acres, the Aquinas College campus blends early twentieth-century architecture with modern-day structures. The campus is home to over 107 species of trees and shrubs, winding woodland paths and inviting creeks and ponds. Aquinas' campus creates a peaceful environment that is just moments away from the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.
3
Aquinas College
Cornerstone University
1607 Robinson Rd. Grand Rapids, MI 49506
1001 E. Beltline Rd. Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Founded: 1886 President: Dr. Juan Olivarez Nickname: Saints Colors: Maroon & White Enrollment: 2500 School Web Site: http://www.aquinas.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.aquinas.edu/athletics/
Founded: 1941 President: Dr. Joseph Stowell Nickname: Golden Eagles Colors: Navy & Gold Enrollment: 1850 School Web Site: http://www.cornerstone.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.cugoldeneagles.com
Concordia University
Davenport University
4090 Geddes Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48105
6191 Kraft Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Founded: 1963 President: Dr. Randall W. Luecke Nickname: Cardinals Colors: Red, White & Black Enrollment: 800 School Web Site: http://www.cuaa.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.concordiacardinals.com/index.php
Founded: 1866 President: Dr. Richard Pappas Nickname: Panthers Colors: Red, Black & White Enrollment: 3500 School Web Site: http://www.davenport.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.dupanthers.com
Indiana Tech 1600 E. Washington Blvd.. Fort Wayne, IN 46803
Lourdes College 6832 Convent Blvd. Sylvania, OH 43560
Founded: 1930 President: Dr. Arthur Snyder Nickname: Warriors Colors: Orange & Black Enrollment: 1471 School Web Site: http://www.indianatech.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.indianatech.edu/athletics
Founded: 1958 President: Dr.David Livingston Nickname: Gray Wolves Colors: Orange & Gray Enrollment: 2600 School Web Site: http://www.lourdes.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.lourdes.edu/ StudentLife/Athletics.aspx
4
Lawrence Tech 21000 W 10 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075
Marygrove College 8425 W. McNichols, Detroit, MI 48221
Founded: 1932 President: Dr. Virinder K. Moudgil Nickname: Blue Devil Colors: Royal Blue & White Enrollment: 4000 School Web Site: http://www.ltu.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.bluedevilathletics.com
Founded: 1927 President: Dr. David J. Fike Nickname: Mustangs Colors: Green & Gold Enrollment: 950 School Web Site: http://www.marygrove.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.marygrovemustangs.com
Madonna University 36600 Schoolcraft Rd. Livonia, MI 48150
Siena Heights University 1247 E. Siena Heights Drive Adrian, MI 49221
Founded: 1937 President: Sister Rose Marie Kujawa Nickname: Crusaders Colors: Royal Blue, Gold & White Enrollment: 4291 School Web Site: http://www.madonna.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.madonnacrusaders.com
Founded: 1919 President: Sister Peg Albert, OP, PHD Nickname: Saints Colors: Navy Blue & Gold Enrollment: 1200 School Web Site: http://www.sienaheights.edu/ Athletic Web Site: http://www.shusaints.com
University of Michigan—Dearborn 4901 Evergreen Dearborn, MI 48128
University of Northwestern Ohio 1441 N. Cable Road Lima, OH 45805
Founded: 1959 President: Daniel Little Nickname: Wolves Colors: Maize & Blue Enrollment: 8950 School Web Site: http://www.umd.umich.edu/ Athletic Web Site: http://gowolves.net
Founded: 1920 President: Dr. Jeffrey Jarvis Nickname: Racers Colors: Red, Black Enrollment: 4000 School Web Site: http://www.unoh.edu/ Athletic Web Site: http://www.unohracers.com/
5
Name
Yr.
Hometown/High School (College)
Geoff Albaugh
Jr.
Middleville, Mich./Catholic Central
Jesus Alvarado
Jr.
Grand Rapids, Mich./Creston
Jimmy Birney
Fr.
Brighton, Mich./Brighton
Blake Bitner
Jr..
Grand Rapids, Mich./Kenowa Hills
Jeff Cherry
So.
Hesperia, Mich./Hesperia
Adam Cichon
Fr.
Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood
Grant Cook
Fr.
Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern
Dan Foley
Sr.
Flint, Mich./Flint Powers Catholic
Stephen Glinski
Jr.
Warren, Mich./Warren De La Salle
Steven Griffith
Fr.
Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis
Grant Gunneson
Jr.
Rockford, Mich./Rockford
Luke Hawley
Fr.
East Jordan, Mich./East Jordan
Stephen Huizing
Jr.
Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood
Devon Joslin
Jr.
Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer/Muskegon Community College
Troy Kauffman
Fr.
Pontiac, Mich./Notre Dame Prep
Gabe Lundgren
Fr.
Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores
Kevin Mahar
Sr.
Hartland, Mich./Hartland
Alex Martinez
Jr.
Grand Rapids, Mich./Wyoming Rogers
Brendan Molony
Sr.
Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Hackett
Shay Ostyn
Fr.
Grant, Mich./Grant
Brad Perschbacher
Jr.
Grand Rapids, Mich./GR Catholic Central
Zach Stepanovich
So.
Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern
Nicholas Tarsa
Fr.
Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City Central
Caleb Teachout
So.
Grand Rapids, Mich./West Catholic
Jacob Towne
So.
Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern
Andrew Vojtko
Jr.
St. Joseph, Mich./Lake Michigan Catholic
Nick Whise
Fr.
St. Joseph, Mich./St. Joseph
Tom Willet
Fr.
Sparta, Mich./Sparta
6
The men's cross country team will return to the grass and the mud with high expectations for the 2013 season. The Saints, who have won nine of the last eleven WHAC Championships, will return its entire national squad (5th place in 2012) for the upcoming slate of competitions. Aquinas enters the year with the longest active top-25 streak in the nation. The Saints have been ranked with the nation's elite for 125 consecutive polls dating back to August of 2000. Coach Wojciakowski will bring 29 Saints to the line this fall with five of them dawning the maroon and white for the first time. Grant Gunneson, reigning WHAC Runner of the Year and NAIA All-American, will lead the Saints pack in 2013. Gunneson will be joined with fellow First Team All-WHAC performers - Stephen Glinski, Jacob Towne and Dan Foley. Adding to the team's depth will be Brendan Molony, Jeff Cherry and Kevin Mahar, all of whom were named to the All-WHAC Second Team a year ago. Coach Woj states, "We show great depth and have the ability and work ethic to be very good this year. We show all the attributes of a championship contender and I look forward to working with
Junior Stephen Glinski this great group of student-athletes." The team will kickoff their competitive season at the Knight Classic on September 14th at the Gainey Complex in Grand Rapids. The squad will then travel to South Bend to compete in the National Catholic Invitational hosted by Notre Dame. The Saints will return to action in October with dates in Lansing and Mishawaka, Indiana before a taste of the national course in Kansas in mid-October. The Saints will then look for some home cooking as they host the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge in late October. Aquinas will conclude their season with the WHAC Championships at Riverside Park and the NAIA Championships in Lawrence, Kansas.
Junior Grant Gunneson
7
MIKE WOJCIAKOWSKI Men’s Head Coach A 1997 Aquinas College graduate, Mike Wojciakowski is in his 16th year as the Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track Coach at Aquinas College. "Woj's" success with the middle distance and distance runners has been exceptional. He has directed the men's and women's Cross Country teams to 14 WHAC Championships, six Region VIII championships and nine top ten finishes at the NAIA National Championships, including a second place finish in
PAIGE BOLDT Men’s Assistant Coach
2004 (the highest national finish for any team in Aquinas College history) and a third place finish in 2008. A 14-time WHAC Coach of the Year, Woj's success on the track has been just as spectacular. The Saints recently won a National Championship in the Men's 4x800 Relay at the 2012 NAIA Outdoor Championships under Woj's direction. He has sent numerous athletes to the indoor and outdoor national championships, 37 of them receiving All American recognition a total of 74 times. Mike has guided many runners to the Saints top five all time performance list as well. A USA Track and Field Level II certified coach in the distance events, Woj's knowledge, personal approach and work ethic has been responsible for developing the Saints distance program into one of the best small college programs in the nation. A four year varsity letter winner in both cross country and track for the Saints, Wojciakowski captained both teams during his senior year. An outstanding student as well as a runner, Wojciakowski earned Academic All American honors in cross country his senior year. Mike and his wife, Amorena, and their daughters, Cecelia (3) and Julia (6 months), reside on the northwest side of Grand Rapids.
Paige Boldt enters her first year with the Saints. Boldt (formerly Onweller) is a 2011 graduate of Ferris State University and a four year varsity letter winner in both cross country and track during her time as a Bulldog. Paige qualified and competed at the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships for three years in a row. During Boldt's senior year she helped the team to one of their highest finishes at nationals (8th). Boldt was selected to the USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Cross Country and Track All-Academic teams, as well as All-GLIAC Conference Team several seasons throughout her eligibility, excelling both in the classroom and on the track. Boldt is currently attending graduate school at Grand Valley State University in the Physician Assistant Studies Program. She is still an avid runner in the Grand Rapids community as a member of RunGR and competes in several local half marathons and 5K’s. Paige and her husband, Dan, reside in Grand Rapids. 8
Geoff Albaugh
Jesus Alvarado
Jimmy Birney
Blake Bitner
Jeff Cherry
Adam Chicon
Grant Cook
Dan Foley
Stephen Glinski
9
Steven Griffith
Grant Gunneson
Luke Hawley
Stephen Huizing
Devon Joslin
Troy Kauffman
Gabe Lundren
Kevin Mahar
Alex Martinez
10
Brendan Moloney
Shay Ostyn
Zach Stepanovich
Nicholas Tarsa
Jacob Towne
Troy Vojtko
Brad Perschbacher
Caleb Teachout
Nick Whise 11
Tom Willet