SPARTAN REPORT News from Aurora University Athletics | March 2017
Winning programs lure athletes to Aurora University Junior business major Deterrica Simpkins came to Aurora University from St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2014 to run track and she says it’s one of the best decisions she’s ever made. “I prefer a smaller, more hands-on community,” she said. “At other universities athletics is like a job; here it’s fun. I can balance my academic and athletic interests. AU is a great place to build your foundation.” And not only is AU fun, it wins — not a small part of its appeal according to Simpkins and to other athletes who come here from all around the country to compete and to study. In fact, just this month the AU women’s track team won the 2017 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. For the fifth consecutive season, the Spartan women won a very tough conference guided by some strong individual performances. Simpkins herself finished first in the 55-meter sprint, led the 4x400meter relay and finished second in the 200-meter sprint. With such success, it’s no wonder that athletes chart a path to AU to play in one the university’s 24 NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletic teams.
The Spartans boast a winning tradition with numerous conference titles and appearances in NCAA tournaments across sports. As much as 30 percent of AU’s baseball team each year hails from some place other than Illinois. This year’s roster, for example, includes four players from Arizona, two from Colorado and one — pitcher Aron Okamoto — from Hawaii. And that’s not even counting the players from Missouri, New Mexico, South Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin. The story is much the same for women’s volleyball, where 11 of the team’s 24 players this year came from outside Illinois. Bringing in top athletes is not necessarily the primary reason AU puts so much effort into its recruiting program. The objective, according to volleyball Head Coach James Seitelman, is to recruit top student-athletes — that is, talented athletes who put their academic goals first. “We’re looking for the complete package in our student-athletes,” he said. “We want them certainly to be good athletes but to also be fully engaged academically and with the larger university community. We seek
Deterrica Simpkins of St. Petersburg, Florida
students who are really committed to developing the mind, body and spirit, which is Aurora University’s underlying objective. We’ve found that by recruiting student-athletes with those qualities the victories follow. “AU is a great choice for a lot of out-ofstate students,” said Seitelman. “We offer the best of both worlds. We want to be competitive on the national scene athletically and we want to make sure they are successful academically. We are very competitive from a financial aid perspective compared with a lot of Division III institutions.” AU’s location, with its easy access to Chicago and two international airports nearby, can be a factor as well, according to Seitelman. But the bottom line is an aggressive, play-to-win strategy and access to an excellent education. “I want all our players to be successful after graduation in a field that they love,” he said.
Women’s lacrosse team aims for championship Christina Fried, now in her third year as head coach of the AU women’s lacrosse team, is optimistic about the upcoming season. “It is our goal to return to the conference championship, this time to win,” she said. “The team has been been working hard, we are stronger and faster than we have been in the past. We will rely on four all-conference players returning to the lineup.”
Kenny Hughes of Alberta, Canada
Those players – Taylor Arcivar (Jr., Mid.), Andrea Colford (Jr., Mid.), Kenny Hughes (Sr., Att.) and Lauren Whitfield (Sr., Mid.) — helped secure a 7–2 record and a second-place finish in Midwest Women’s Lacrosse Conference play in 2016.
Fried noted that last year’s team was highly successful in the classroom too, having been named a Division III Academic Honor Squad by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association, which requires that all team members maintain a 3.0 GPA for the year. Eighteen Spartans were also named to the Midwest Women’s Lacrosse Conference All-Academic Team, which requires a 3.3 GPA. Fried said that her squad continues to be enthusiastic about lacrosse, a rapidly growing sport across the nation but one still relatively new to AU and to the Midwest. “It is a real pleasure to coach here,” she said. “These girls are eager to learn. I see improvement at every practice.”
Men’s lacrosse team ranked No. 1 The 2017 men’s lacrosse team returned to the field this season ranked No. 1 in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference (MLC). They have done so after last year’s record 17–3 season, which resulted in its fourth straight MLC championship and its fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III men’s lacrosse Sweet Sixteen. Four-time MLC Coach of the Year Kylor Berkman leads the Spartans. He enters the 2017 season with an overall record of 76–23 and 40–1 in conference play. The Spartans lost their last game against an MLC opponent in 2012. Like the women’s team, the AU men’s team this year returns several key performers, notably Jason Koziol
(Sr., Att.), Matt Smidlein (Sr., Mid.) and Trevor McNamara (Jr., Att.). “One of biggest strengths this year will be our veteran leadership,” Berkman said. “From an offensive standpoint, our top eight scorers are all back. We have an offense that is familiar with and has confidence in each other. Defensively, we only lost one player and we had three freshmen starting. Now they have a year under their belts and we are looking forward to seeing how they have progressed from last year’s campaign. “Our ability to win ground balls, maintain possession, and score effectively and efficiently will help us against top-level competition,” he said.
Will Bradshaw of Gahanna, Ohio
From California to Aurora, worth every mile Senior football player and California native Justin Gibbons didn’t envision what college would be like before enrolling at Aurora University. His collegiate experience started closer to home at a community college, yet he felt a pull in another direction. “There wasn’t an emphasis on school spirit or athletic support,” he said. When his uncle, a high school counselor in Sugar Grove, Illinois, suggested that Gibbons consider applying to Aurora University, he emailed the coaching staff and never looked back. “I needed a university that was going to keep me focused and on track,” he said. “This became clear as I got to know AU staff.”
His teammates have been equally supportive. Last year, he was voted team captain and AU provided the tight-knit community and structure he needed to be successful. “Coach Ponx has been a very amazing and incredibly involved person in my life. I could not have asked for a better figure and leader to help guide me through the last two years of my collegiate career,” he said.
His experience at AU has prepared him for a possible future in football beyond college. He signed with an agent and has been working out with Division I players at a nearby performance facility. “Two years ago, if you told me that I would have the chance to play in front of NFL scouts, I would have not believed it,” he said.
That career included playing both defensive back and wide receiver. On defense, he accounted for 30 tackles, three pass break-ups and the blocked kick that clinched the Spartans’ 2016 NACC championship. As a receiver, he had six catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Gibbons of Woodland, California
Track and field teams set pace with records Men’s and women’s track and field student-athletes are making their marks in the Aurora University history book. As the year’s competition moves from indoor to outdoor, nine university records have already been established: Senior Jimmy Baeskens, 5K 15:36.87 Freshman Thomas Barselou, pole vault 4.40/14’5.25” – tie Junior Brandon Davis, pole vault 4.40/14’5.25” – tie Junior Terry Moore, 200-meter sprint 22.41 Sophomore Ryan Njegovan, shot put 18.12/59’5.5” Senior Taylor Jefford, long jump 5.38/17’ 8” and 55-meter hurdles 8.31 Junior Hannah Meager, shot put 12.84/42’1.5’‘ Junior Rebecca Moore, pole vault 3.20/10’6” Junior Deterrica Simpkins, 200-meter sprint 25.08 Head Coach Brandon Sturman credits the teams’ accomplishments to the dedication student-athletes displayed in the early fall. “We put in a lot more quality time early on and it’s really showing,” he said.“The seniors are stepping it up along with a group of underclassmen who know they need to fill spots where we lack depth.” There are plenty of accolades to go around. Sophomore Gina Ramundo is achieving personal records in the 200-meter sprint and performing well in the long jump. Mid-distance runners senior Jessica Campbell and sophomore Jazzmine
Reyes are continuing to post personal records. Freshmen Steve Ruffin (60-meter sprint/200-meter sprint), Adam Hinders (60-meter sprint/200-meter sprint) and Jeremiah Cooley (800-meter run/mile) have been impressive surprises in the running events. Perhaps all the success comes from the support the teammates give one another. “Regardless of different personalities and characteristics, when it comes to competing and winning that conference title, each athlete will sacrifice themselves for the team,” said Sturman. The momentum appears to be on the side of both teams as they start the outdoor season. Women’s track and field clinched the indoor NACC championship in February, while the men’s team placed second.
#WEA R EO NEAU
Spartan Athletic Park to offer home-field advantage
Artist’s concept as of March 2017. Park elements and layout are subject to change.
Groundbreaking begins in just a few months for the highly anticipated Spartan Athletic Park. The multisport complex, located just a mile south of campus, will house championship-quality venues, providing AU teams with an unparalleled home-field advantage. The first phase of construction calls for a gateway entrance, softball stadium, baseball stadium and a soccer and lacrosse stadium, all complemented by locker rooms, grandstands and ample parking. Plans are being finalized for additional facilities in future building phases. Spartan Athletic Park will build upon AU’s tradition of athletic excellence, serve the needs of student-athletes and enable the university to host championship competitions.
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News from Aurora University Athletics | March 2017