Viking Sports Weekly Volume 1 • Number 31
2011-12 S e a s o n I n R e v i e w
2011-12 Year-in-Review A LOOK BA CK AT WHAT HA PPE NE D IN CS U ATHLE TICS - FA L L S P O R T S
Men’s Soccer Wins Nine Matches
Ali Kazemaini’s squad went 9-9-1 and had the season end in a 1-0 home loss to Loyola in the opening round of the Horizon League Championship. The year started with a loss to Akron, the defending NCAA champions. CSU beat host Bowling Green and then split two matches in California to start the year 2-2. After three straight non-league losses dropped the Vikings to 2-5, the team played to a 0-0 tie with eventual regular season champion Valparaiso. That match kicked off a strong finish to the regular season that saw Cleveland State go 7-3 over the final 10 regular season games. Aaron Adkins led the club with nine goals, ranking him second in the league. It was the most goals scored by a Viking since Stephen Ademolu scored 12 during in 2003. First Team All-Horizon League: Aaron Adkins, Admir Suljevic and Manuel Conde Second Team All-Horizon League: Aslinn Rodas and Brad Stuver Horizon League All-Newcomer Team: Mike Derezic
N ata l i e D a n i e l s
Manuel Conde
Women’s Soccer Wins School Record 10 Games Cleveland State produced the best season in program history, winning a school record 10 matches to finish the season at 10-7-2 overall and 3-3-2 in the Horizon League. The Vikings earned the fourth seed in the Horizon League Championship, but fell at home in the opening round of the tournament, 1-0, to fifth seeded Wright State. CSU won five of its first seven contests of the season, including a sweep of a two-game trip out west, winning 2-1 at Wyoming and 2-0 at Air Force in early September. Taylor Vidovic led the squad with 15 points on a team-leading seven goals and one assist. Her seven goals were third most in the league and the third most in a season in CSU history. Natalie Daniels produced 12 points on three goals and a team-best six assists. First Team All-Horizon League Daniels finished her career by being named to the All- Natalie Daniels Horizon League team for the fourth straight season. She Second Team All-Horizon League left the program with CSU career records in goals (19), Taylor Vidovic assists (19) and points (57). As a team, the Vikings scored a single-season school record 25 goals and allowed a school-record low of 22 goals behind a defense led by All-Ohio selection Valerie Stahl. Freshman Shea Levi was named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer team.
Horizon League All-Newcomer Team Shea Levi
First Team All-Ohio Natalie Daniels, Valerie Stahl
Brad Stuver Aaron Adkins
2011-12 Year-in-Review A LOOK BA CK AT WHAT HA PPE NE D IN CS U ATHLE TICS - FA L L S P O R T S
K a r a K o ch
Allison Craine
Cross Country Finishes Fourth At League Championship
Led by senior Allison Craine, the 2011 cross country team had one of their best seasons to date, including their highest finish at the Horizon League Championship in program history. Throughout the season, Craine was named the Horizon League Runner of the Week twice, while the team earned USTFCCCA Women’s Cross Country All-Academic honors. The Vikings had their best finish at the Shawnee State Invitational, where CSU placed second behind three sub 20-minute times. The Vikings finished fourth at the league meet, the first time that CSU has finished in the top-four. Craine was Cleveland State’s top finisher during eight races, while freshman Kendra Kezur led the Vikings once. USTFCCCA Women’s Cross Country All-Academic Team: 2011 Vikings
K a r i H ay w o o d
First Team All-Horizon League: Jordan Goad, Kara Koch CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team: Megan Barhorst
Jordan Goad
Amy Grabiec
Volleyball Advances To League Championship Match
For the fifth time in program history the volleyball team reached the championship match of the Horizon League Tournament, falling just short of the league title and finishing the 2011 season with a 21-8 mark. The Vikings were rewarded for their performance throughout the year, earning five Horizon League Player of the Week honors, and placing two student-athletes on the All-Horizon League first team in Jordan Goad and Kara Koch. CSU posted a 7-4 record and landed two players on all-tournament teams following all three early-season tournaments. The Vikings opened league play with a 7-1 record, with their only loss coming to league-champion Milwaukee. Cleveland State lost just two more matches during the regular season and notched its 20th victory of the year against Green Bay on Senior Day. The Vikings ended league play with a 13-3 mark, tying the record for most league wins in a season and finishing as the regular season runner-up. Multiple milestones were achieved throughout the season, including Koch becoming the 14th Viking to notch 1,000 career kills, ending the year with 1,076. Seniors Jordan Goad and Amy Grabiec finished their careers ranked second in assists and digs at CSU, respectively, Goad with 4,482 assists and Grabiec with 1,481 digs.
2011-12 Year-in-Review A LOOK BA CK AT WHAT HA PPE NE D IN CS U ATHLE TICS - WIN T E R S P O R T S
Men’s Basketball Advances To Postseason Play Cleveland State advanced to the postseason for the fourth time in the last five years, earning a bid to the NIT after finishing as the Horizon League runner-up in the regular season. Despite losing at Stanford in the opening round of the NIT, the Vikings concluded the season with a 22-11 record, the ninth 20-win season in program history and the fourth in the last five seasons. The Vikings opened the season with five straight wins, the second best start in program history, that included a 71-57 win at No. 7 Vanderbilt in the season opener. It was the highest ranked opponent defeated in program history and the sixth win over a top-25 ranked team in school history. Five of those wins have come since Gary Waters took over the program in 2006. The Vikings also won the Ticket City Legends Classic Sub-Regional in Kingston, R.I. The Vikings improved to 20-4 overall and 10-2 in league play with a win at UIC on Feb. 5, but a key injury to senior D’Aundray Brown sent CSU to five straight losses. Home wins over Detroit and Wright State to end the regular season allowed the Vikings to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League Championship, but CSU was ousted in the semifinals by Detroit. Trey Harmon and Jeremy Montgomery became just the 18th and 19th players in program history to reach 1,000 career points, while Harmon hit a CSU single-season record with 71 three-pointers made. Montgomery finished his career with 91 victories, tied for the most by an individual player in program history. As a team, CSU led the league in scoring defense (60.1), steals (8.5) and turnover margin (2.5), while Brown finished the season ranked eighth in the country in steals (2.5). The Vikings also won 11 road games, the second most in the nation.
Trey Harmon Second Team All-Horizon League Trey Harmon Horizon League All-Defensive Team D’Aundray Brown, Trey Harmon
J e r e m y M o n t g o m e ry
Horizon League All-Newcomer Team Anton Grady
G a ry
CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major All-Defensive Team Trey Harmon Ticket City Legends Classic All-Tournament Team Aaron Pogue (MVP), D’Aundray Brown
W at e r s D ’ A u n d r ay B r o w n 2 0 1 2 NIT
2011-12 Year-in-Review A LOOK BA CK AT WHAT HA PPE NE D IN CS U ATHLE TICS - WIN T E R S P O R T S
Winton’s Strong Season Highlights Women’s Basketball
Cori Coleman First Team All-Horizon League Shay Winton Horizon League All-Defensive Team Shay Winton
With injuries forcing the Vikings to play a young lineup throughout the year, the Vikings had an up and down season that ended in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Championship. Junior Shalonda Winton, who was named to the All-Horizon League first team and All-Defensive team, led the Vikings throughout the season and averaged 18.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. The Vikings, who finished the year at 12-19 overall and 6-12 in the Horizon League, had seven players finish with at least 100 points on the season, four of which finished with 200 or more. Winton, who recorded a team-best 566 points and 303 rebounds, became the third Viking in program history to notch 500 points and 300 boards in a single season. She also became the 23rd Viking to record 1,000 points during their career at CSU. Along with Winton, the Vikings were paced by senior Takima Keane (7.6 ppg, 2.6 apg), junior Honesty King (8.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and freshman Cori Coleman (8.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg). On Feb. 18, Kate Peterson Abiad became the winningest coach in program history, ending the season with 118 career victories at CSU.
Takima Keane K at e P e t e r s o n A b i a d
S h ay W i n t o n
2011-12 Year-in-Review A LOOK BA CK AT WHAT HA PPE NE D IN CS U ATHLE TICS - WIN T E R S P O R T S
Women’s Swimming Has Best Finish At League Championship In Program History The Vikings went 12-4 and placed second at the Horizon League Championships, the best finish in program history. The meet was highlighted by Kacey Cummings sweeping the diving events, becoming only the third female diver in the last nine years to win both events at the league meet. Her coach, Rich Karban, was tabbed as the league’s female ‘Diving Coach of the Year’. Alice Sommerville set an NCAA B-Cut time with her school record time of 1:02.62 in the 100 breast. The Vikings took three of the five relays in a year in which they set school records in all five relays. Three relay squads – the 200 free, 200 medley and 400 free – set NCAA B-Cut qualifying times. As a team, the women shattered 16 swimming school records. Cummings also broke the CSU record in the three-meter diving event (300.95).
B e r ry T h o m p s o n Kacey C u mm i n g s
Justin Hill Justin Kermack Alice S o mm e r v i l l e CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major AllAmerican Honorable Mention: Joanna Olsson and Alice Sommerville Horizon League Diver of the Year: Kacey Cummings Horizon League Diving Coach of the Year: Rich Karban
C a ry s B e h n
Horizon League Winter All-Academic Team: Carys Behn, Kacey Cummings, Alexandra Johansson, Joanna Olsson, Alice Sommerville College Swimming Coaches Association of America: Team ‘Scholar All-American’ status (3.39 GPA)
Men’s Swimming Finishes As Horizon League Runner-Up
The Vikings finished the 2011-12 season with an 11-4 mark and placed second at the Horizon League Championships, scoring 726.5 team points - the most by Cleveland State since the Vikings won the team title in 2006. Individually, Justin Kermack, Alex Lewis CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major All-American and Berry Thompson each racked up NCAA Honorable Mention: Justin Hill, Justin Kermack, Alex Lewis, Berry Thompson B-Cut qualifying times. Kermack met the ‘B’ standards in the 400 IM (3:54.53) and with Horizon League Winter All-Academic Team: Brad his school record time of 1:47.30 in the 200 fly. Bielak, Matt DiMasso, Brian Ferro, Justin Kermack Thompson placed second in the 50 free with a ‘B’ cut time of 20.24. He also qualified with College Swimming Coaches Association of Amercia: his school record time of 43.33 in the 100 free. Team ‘Scholar All-American’ status (3.0) Lewis had his B-Cut effort when he set a school record in the 100 fly (48.28). Diver Josh Gonzalez, who won the league title in the three-meter event (353.75), qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships for the third consecutive year. On the national level, Kermack gained exposure, placing ninth in the 200 fly at the 2011 AT&T Winter National Championships in Atlanta.
2011-12 Year-in-Review A LOOK BA CK AT WHAT HA PPE NE D IN CS U ATHLE TICS - WIN T E R S P O R T S
Wrestling
Cleveland State finished the season with a 6-14 record and was led by a trio of placewinners at the 37th annual Eastern Wrestling League Championships. Corey Carlo (165) took third while Ben Willeford (125) was fifth and Aric Thurn (174) took sixth at the league meet. The highlight of the season came at the George Mason Patriot Duals in mid-January when the Vikings went 3-0, knocking off VMI, Davidson and the host Patriots by a combined score of 78-33. Nine different Vikings won at least two matches in Fairfax, led by Carlo who was a perfect three-for-three. Nick Flannery (133) led the team with 20 victories, including nine pins, six of which came in dual meets, tying him for the single season school record.
2012 Hall of Fame Induction
Fencing
Cleveland State hosted the 2012 NCAA Midwest Regional, an event in which the Vikings qualified nine studentathletes. Alex Dickinson placed 10th in the epee, while Stephanie Lee was 17th of 20 foilists at the regional meet, a qualifying event for the NCAA Championships. Dickinson finished the year at 81-33 while Lee wrapped up her final season with a 67-50 mark. When the men got their turn, four fencers placed in the top 12. Tom Bienvenu finished 10th in the sabre, one spot ahead of teammate Wesley Miller. Levi Young (epee) and Phelan Spence (foil) each took 12th in their respective weapons. Spence, the ‘Rookie of the Year’ after his freshman season, led the men’s team with an 81-34 record.
The CSU Athletics Hall of Fame welcomed three new members at the induction ceremony on Feb. 10. Joining the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame were Gale Drummer (men’s basketball, 1973-75), Jeff Haase (baseball, 1997-2000) and Andrew Hancock (swimming, 200003). In addition, longtime CSU equipment manager and current head cross country coach Joe Jaketic received an honorary achievement award for his 40 years of service to CSU athletics. The 1982 and 1983 softball teams were also honored for advancing to the AIAW National Tournament in back-to-back seasons. The inductees were also recognized at halftime of the men’s basketball game the following day.
Phelan Spence
Aric Thurn G a l e D r u mm e r
Corey Carlo
N i c k F l a n n e ry
Stephanie Lee
Jeff Haase
Andrew Hancock
2011-12 Year-in-Review A LOOK BA CK AT WHAT HA PPE NE D IN CS U ATHLE TICS - S PR IN G S P O R T S
Men’s Tennis Advances To League Title Match
A four-year streak came to end during the 2011-12 season for the Cleveland State men’s tennis team, as the Vikings came up short in the championship match of the Horizon League Tournament for the first time in five years. Despite the ending, CSU had a strong season, which led to senior Yannick Goossens being named to the All-Horizon League first team and sophomore Matt Kuelker earning a spot on the All-Horizon League second team. The Vikings finished the year with a 12-12 overall record and a 4-3 mark in league action. Matt Ford led the team with his first career 20-win season, ending the year with a 20-14 mark, including a perfect 7-0 record in league matches. Goossens finished his career ranked fourth on the all-time singles wins list with an 82-58 mark, while Matt Kuelker and Jorg van der Vloet tied for 10th on the CSU single season wins list with their 15 victories in doubles action. CSU’s key non-conference wins included its first-ever victory over Western Michigan, Xavier, Buffalo and Northern Illinois. Goossens was the lone Viking to earn a weekly award from the league, earning player of the week honors on February 14.
M at t F o r d
M at t K u e l k e r
Y a n n i c k G o o ss e n s First Team All-Horizon League: Yannick Goossens Second Team All-Horizon League: Matt Kuelker
Women’s Tennis Finishes As Horizon League Runner-Up C at r i n e B j e r r e h u s
Maria Lazaris
First Team All-Horizon League: Catrine Bjerrehus Second Team All-Horizon League: Maria Lazaris
Brian Etzkin
For the second straight season the women’s tennis team reached the championship match of the Horizon League Tournament, but fell to UIC in the finals. The Vikings finished the season with a 16-9 overall record and a 7-1 mark in league matches. Senior Catrine Bjerrehus was named to the All-Horizon League first team, while junior Maria Lazaris earned a spot on the All-Horizon League second team. Throughout the year the Vikings picked up key non-conference victories against Xavier, Ball State, Toledo and Dayton. CSU opened league play with four straight wins before falling to eventual league champion UIC. The Vikings then ended the regular season on a three-match win streak, tying the record for most conference wins in a season. A trio of Vikings recorded 20-win seasons in 2011-12 (Alex Power, Nicole Janek, Kara Sherwood), while Janek and Lazaris reached 50 wins for their careers. After leading the Vikings at No. 1 singles, Bjerrehus finished her time at CSU ranked fourth on the all-time career singles wins list with 62. Power, who led the team with a 25-12 mark this year, tied for second all-time on the single season wins list, while Janek ranked fifth and Sherwood 13th.
2011-12 Year-in-Review A LOOK BA CK AT WHAT HA PPE NE D IN CS U ATHLE TICS - S PR IN G S P O R T S
Softball
CSU overcame a mountain of injuries to several key players and finished the year with a 17-39 overall record and 9-15 in the Horizon League. Dara Toman sparked the team all season, overcoming her own injuries on her way to earning First Team All-Horizon League honors. Her 19 home runs set a CSU single season record and tied her for 10th nationally. She walked a school record 43 times, helping her finish the year with a .553 on-base percentage, more than 50 points higher than the next closest finisher in the league. Sara Shields was a pleasant surprise after transferring from Lake Erie College, taking over one of the top spots in the Viking pitching rotation. She finished the year with a team-best 13 victories and was second on the squad in average (.321), slugging percentage (.522), on-base percentage (.372), runs (24), hits (43) and home runs (seven).
Men’s Golf
The Vikings finished third at the Horizon League Championship, carding rounds of 304-308-303 to finish with a 54-hole total of 915. CSU was just six shots behind league champion Loyola and four back of runner-up Green Bay in the closely bunched standings. Jon Riemer earned a spot on the all-tournament team, placing fifth overall with a three round total of 225 (74-76-75). CSU placed two players on the all-league first team in sophomore Andrew Bailey and junior Michael Klaric. Both earned a spot on the team for the second straight season. Bailey was also named the Horizon League Player of the Year, the third player in CSU history to earn the honor. He led the team with a 73.8 scoring average, while Klaric was second at 74.7.
Women’s Golf
Cleveland State placed fourth at the Horizon League Championship, carding rounds of 344-336-335 at the event. Madeline Kaminski and Ariel Sparrow paced the Vikings, tying for ninth place at the league championship with three round totals of 253. Kaminski shot rounds of 87-84-82, while Sparrow shot 83-86-84. Sparrow led the Vikings with an 81.6 scoring average, while Kaminski was second on the squad at 83.0. All seven players shot their career lows at some point during the season, including a 73 by Sparrow at the Zippy Invitational that tied for the second lowest round in program history. As a team, the Vikings averaged 329.5 per round this season, the lowest scoring average in program history. CSU also shot a program-best 312 in the final round of the Zippy Invitational in October.
Dara Toman
M i ch a e l Klaric First Team All-Horizon League: Dara Toman CollegeSportsMadness.com ‘Field Player of the Year’: Dara Toman Second Team All-Horizon League: Sara Shields
S a r a S h i e l ds
Horizon League All-Newcomer Team: Nena Doran, Sara Shields
Madeline Kaminski
Andrew Bailey
Horizon League Player of the Year Andrew Bailey First Team All-Horizon League Andrew Bailey, Michael Klaric Horizon League All-Tournament Team Jon Riemer
Lisa Barber
Ariel Sparrow
V iking S ports Y ear I n R eview Volume 1, No. 31
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