Goshen College Athletics 2007-08 Year In Review

ATHLETICS 2007-08

GOSHEN COLLEGE

Turning a New Leaf (Pg. 22)

Harnish’s Outstanding Season (Pg. 25)

Philosophy of athletics “Our intercollegiate athletics program is an important facet of the total educational program at Goshen College.

A quality athletic program provides opportunities for the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of its participants, players, and coaches. Quality includes a chance to succeed athletically. It also means fidelity to our college mission, fairness in opportunity for women and men, support for the academic aspirations of athletes, good sportsmanship and attractive facilities. Athletes have the opportunity to learn the important life skills of wise time management, leadership and teamwork. Such life skills contribute positively to students performance on the playing field, in the classrooms and in residence life. Athletic teams have numerous opportunities to model a Christian lifestyle.”

Another NAIA Region Championship appearance (Pg. 14)

The Transition Game (Pg. 28)

Inside

Features

10 TRADITION 14 Men’s soccer reaches

TENNIS REVIEW

another NAIA Regional championship game.

FAN BASE 17 The Goshen College

soccer complex is one of the hardest places to play in the MCC.

CLASS ACT 18 Women’s soccer excells on and off the field.

20 LEAF TURNING 22 New talent leads way.

GOLF REVIEW

PATCH WORK 24 A rebuilt women’s cross

country team stands firm.

PACK MENTALITY 26 Men’s cross country stays close on the race track.

TRANSITION 28 Men’s basketball starts

season 10-1 under firstyear head coach.

GROWING UP 34 With eight underclass-

men, the women’s basketball team makes strides.

NATIONAL STAGE 36 Peters defends title.

STEP AHEAD 40 Record-setting year.

INCHES AWAY 42 Baseball Season Review.

THE FUTURE 46 Softball looks to the future to repair the past.

38 SENIORS 48 A tribute to the class of 08.

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THE YEAR’S BEST END OF AN ERA

Tony Janzen hangs up his cleats after a pair of All American awards.

21 ACAYO: FAR FROM HOME 30 HARTMAN: THE SPOTLIGHT 32 SOWERS: NO REGRETS WALK IN THE PARK 38 NO Racewalker Tina Peters is racking up the national titles at Goshen.

44 CNN ROUND TABLE DEVELOPMENTS 50 ALUMNI A look back to see how Goshen has shaped the lives of alumni.

NEWEST LEAF 51 Tim Demant named new Athletic Director.

Right: 2007 NAIA Region VIII Runner-Ups

2007-08 YEAR IN REVIEW

CREDITS: The Maple Leaf 2007-08 Year in Review was designed, produced and written by the Goshen College Sports Information Department. Photography: Organized through the Goshen College Sports Information Department, photography was taken by Cory Furman, Tera Furman, Brian Steiner, and Josh Gleason. Printing: The Year In Review was printing by Goshen College Printing and Mailing Services. Additional assistance on the project was provided by the Goshen College Public Relations Department.

1. WE BELIEVE IN THE

IDEA OF A STUDENT-ATHLETE. Goshen College student-athletes are students first, participating in first-class and rigorous academic programs. We are proud to have featured 24 Daktronics NAIA All American Scholar-Athletes in the 2007-08 school year.

2.

TEAMWORK IS PART OF EVERYTHING WE DO. Student-athletes learn how to lead, follow and work as a team, lessons that will extend to different areas of their futures.

As an athletic staff, we strive to give opportunities on and off the field for this type of social development.

3. WE ARE PROUD TO BE 4. WE WANT TO WIN. Our A CHARACTER PROGRAM. As part of the NAIA’s Champions of Character program, we strive to support the goals and mission of the NAIA and Goshen College by representing our faith through good sportsmanship.

5.

WE RELY ON OTHERS. With budgets tight around the country, we could not survive without the generosity of the Maple Leafs Athletic Club and others. To learn how you can help contact Doug Yoder at (574)535-7495.

6.

WWW.GOLEAFS.NET WILL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE. To keep up to speed with the latest scores, highlights, recruiting news, and features on Goshen College athletics, please visit us online at www.GoLeafs.net.

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THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

athletes and coaching staff work tireless hours improving their skills so they are better prepared for the competition. In 2007-08, the Maple Leafs racked up 21 All Mid-Central Conference honors as well as 6 NAIA All American recognitions.

THE YEAR IN

O PHOT S

SUPPORT (left): Some of the largest and loudest crowds in the MCC are at the Goshen College Soccer Complex.

ON THE PITCH (below): Shane Kurtz pitches for the Maple Leafs.

BOMBS AWAY (right): Laurelyn Foderaro prepares to serve on way to MCC runner-up honors in No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.

SEEING IT THROUGH (bottom right): The men’s golf team posted their lowest overall score in four years at the MCC Championships.

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Goshen College Athletics

I CAN’T REACH (far left): Women’s cross country team members gather to stretch before a meet.

DOWN THE LINE (top right): A view from the top of a deep and young Maple Leafs’ women’s basketball team.

STANDING OUT (Bottom right): Laura Harnish’s outstanding junior season stood out even in the midst of bushes and trees.

OUT OF THE BLOCKS (right): Abri Houser (third from right) starts her race. The junior set a new school, track, and MCC record in the 100-meter hurdles at the MCC championships.

GLOWING (below): The women’s soccer team shined bright on and off the soccer pitch.

MOVING ON (top right): After seven years as the Goshen College Athletic Director, Ken Pletcher has moved to a role in the development office at Goshen.

SWEET SWING (bottom right): Straight from Uganda, Peni Acayo pounded out kill after kill on way to being named MCC and Region VIII Freshman of the Year.

www.GoLeafs.net

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TOP 10

Coach of the Year

STORIES OF 2007-08

1

PLETCHER RESIGNS

Ken Pletcher moves to job in development after seven years as athletic director for the Maple Leafs.

2

PETERS DEFENDS TITLE

3

FRESHMAN OF YEAR

Sophomore Tina Peters wins third-straight 3000-meter racewalk national championship.

Peni Acayo receives Mid-Central and NAIA Region VIII recognition in volleyball.

4

REGIONAL POWER

5

KRONK SETS RECORD

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SOFTBALL POSTPONED

7

PAIR OF ALL-AMERICANS

8

FURMAN LEAVES POST

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BIG WIN FOR WOMEN

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The Men’s Soccer team reaches their second consecutive Region VIII Championship game.

Deanna Kronk named All American after breaking school record in weight throw.

2008 softball season does not take place due to a lack of student-athletes.

Tony Janzen and Kyle Stiffney named NAIA All Americans in men’s soccer.

Six-year SID leaves for Messiah College (Pa).

Soccer beats Taylor for just second time in 17 years.

Tavi Mounsithiraj Thavisak Mounsithiraj has been named Coach of the Year by his colleagues in the Goshen College athletic department.

Mounsithiraj’s team entered the season ranked #16 in the NAIA polls, the highest preseason ranking in the 49-year history of the program.

After starting a disapointing 0-3-1, Coach Mounsithiraj led the Maple Leafs through a series of injuries – including the loss of their

B-BALL STARTS STRONG

Men start 10-1, women win 10th straight opener.

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Goshen College Athletics

Men’s soccer coach

starting goalkeeper – to a third-place finish (5-3) in the Mid-Central Conference regular season.

With wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the MCC Tournament, Mounsithiraj led Goshen to its fourth MCC Tournament Championship game in five years.

Despite a loss, Mounsithiraj took his squad into the NAIA Region VIII and won on the road to send them to their secondstraight Region Championship game.

MALE

FEMALE Peni Acayo Volleyball & Track The Kampala, Uganda native was named MidCentral Conference and NAIA Region VIII Freshman of the Year after averaging 4.59 kills a game (20th in the nation). On the track, Acayo earned All MCC honors after winning the high jump.

Tony Janzen Soccer Senior forward led team with 14 goals and 33 points to be named First-Team All Mid-Central Conference, First-Team NAIA Region VIII, and All American Honorable Mention. Janzen finished career #6 in goals scored at Goshen with 44.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

After a shaky 0-3-1 start, the Goshen College men’s

soccer team rebounded, winning nine of its next twelve to reach its second-straight NAIA Region VIII Championship game and earned Team of the Year Honors as voted on by athletic staff.

The Maple Leafs got an emotional boost on September 15th when they faced off against sister school Eastern Mennonite University in front of over 2,500 fans, alumni, students, and family in Pennsylvania.

Goshen breezed past its Mennonite rival 4-1 sparking a run through Mid-Central Conference play.

At 5-2 in league, the Maple Leafs hosted Indiana

Wesleyan with a chance for a share of their thirdstraight MCC regular-season championship. A 1-0 loss was only a temporary setback as a pair of wins in the MCC Tournament sent them into the Region VIII Tournament.

A 2-0 semifinal win on the road at Aquinas College put the Maple Leafs back to the region championship game with a trip to their secondstraight NAIA national tournament on the line.

Again the Maple Leafs fell just short with a 1-0 loss to Madonna University, but the team finished the season with a 128-2 record overall and 5-3 in the MCC. www.GoLeafs.net

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2007-08 Year Twenty-four Daktronics-NAIA All American Scholar Athletes. Twenty-one All-MidCentral Conference performers. Six NAIA All Americans. The Mid-Central Conference and NAIA Region VIII Freshman of the Year in volleyball. The Mid-Central Conference Defensive Player of the Year in men’s soccer.

The numbers speak for themselves. It has been another outstanding year for the Goshen College Athletics Department.

Like any other year, 2007-08 had its disappointments, but it also had some fantastic achievements. Those accomplishments for the 14 intercollegiate athletic teams and 186 student-athletes at Goshen College are what they will remember for the rest of their lives.

They are the moments where real development begins. The moments that separate a mere game from a real-life lesson to be used no matter what the future holds.

Hold on tight as we travel back through the year that was Goshen College Athletics 2007-08.

SEPTEMBER: Volleyball’s win over Spring Arbor was the first MCC-opening win for the program since 2003...In front a huge crowd of friends, family, and alumni, the men’s soccer team displayed their talent in beating sister school Eastern Mennonite 4-1 – their first win against EMU in 20-plus years...At the Bethel Invitational, the men’s

cross country team won its first event in nearly a decade.

OCTOBER: Athletic Director Ken Pletcher announced his resignation to take a position in development... The women’s soccer team holds on for a 1-0 win over Taylor – its first over the Trojans in ten years...Sashi Sabanathan and Beakel Girma combine for a MCC Championship title in No. 1 doubles... head cross country coach Doug Yoder takes over as Interim Athletic Director.

NOVEMBER: A 2-0 win at Aquinas College sent the men’s soccer team to their second-straight NAIA Region VIII Championship game...After trailing by as many as 13 points in the second half, the Lady Leafs basketball team went on a run that culminated with freshman Cassie Greives turnaround jumper at the buzzer to give Goshen a 59-58 win on the road.

DECEMBER: The month got off to a fantastic start as the men’s basketball team threw a wrench into the MCC pre-season poll as they upset NAIA No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan behind Errick McCollum’s 34 points. The win gave the Leafs an incredible 10-1 start under first-year head coach Gary Chupp.

JANUARY: Senior Brice Hartman put the men’s basketball team on his shoulders as he scored 16 points in the final seven

2007-08 GOSHEN COLLEGE YEAR IN REVIEW SEPT 5 – Win over Spring Arbor was the first MCCopening win since 2003 for volleyball program.

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SEPT 28 – Men’s cross country wins Bethel Invite for first team win in a decade.

SEPT. 15 – Men’s soccer defeats Eastern Mennonite for first time since 1969 in 4-1 fashion.

Goshen College Athletics

OCT 11-13 – Sabanathan and Girma win first MCC doubles title since tournament shifted formats in 2000.

OCT 25 – Yoder named Interim AD after Ken Pletcher resigns post.

In Review minutes of regulation. His run brought the Leafs back from 20 points down as they went on to win 77-75 in overtime.

FEBRUARY: Junior Deanna Kronk broke the school record in the weight throw three times on her way to All American honors in the event...

Both basketball teams hold on for late wins over Grace giving each a chance to finish in the middle of the crowded MCC standings.

MARCH: On a trip to Florida, the baseball team took 2-of-3 from sister school Eastern Mennonite on the strength of grand slams in back-to-back innings...At the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Nationals, sophomore Tina Peters easily defended her national title in the 3K race walk earning her third championship in a year and a half as a Maple Leaf.

APRIL: The track program continued to display its depth and talent as the women’s squad took third – its highest finish ever – and the men placed

fifth at the MCC Championships hosted

by Goshen...at the two-day event, the Maple Leafs shattered ten school, track, and meet records...despite struggling through the MCC schedule, the baseball team got a complete game one-hit shutout – a sixth inning infield single – from Aaron Coy to overtake Grace College in the regular-season standing.

MAY: An incredible eight, five women and three men, qualified for NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Nationals held in late May in St. Louis...Sophomore sensation Tina Peters walked her way to her fourth All American honor in two years as she took third in the 3000-meter racewalk.

What a year it was indeed! Continue on through this year in review to hear more about these successes as well as others and how they have developed Maple Leaf student-athletes.

By the NUMBERS...

24 Daktronics-NAIA All American Scholar-Athletes 21 All Mid-Central Conference Selections 6 NAIA All Americans 82 Maple Leaf Victories (9 sports with records) 10 Overtime/ Extra-Inning Contests 189 Student-Athletes 13 International Student-Athletes 11 U.S. States Competed At In 2007-08 26 Senior Student-Athletes Graduated In April NOV 16 – Cassie Greives hits buzzer-beater as Leafs win on the road at Judson College.

JAN 23 – Brice Hartman scored 16 in final seven-plus to bring Goshen back from 20down in OT win over Marian.

MAR 1-2 – Baseball hits grand slams in back-to-back innings as they win series over Eastern Mennonite.

MAR 7-8 – Tina Peters defends NAIA Indoor National Title in the 3000-meter racewalk.

FEB 16 – Deanna Kronk breaks weight throw record for second of three times this year on way to All American honors.

www.GoLeafs.net

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Men’s Tennis

Step In The Right Direction A fourth-place finish in the MCC was a step up from 2006 falling to Jorge Brumicky of Taylor University 6-2, 6-3. Girma (No. 1 sinexpected an improvement over a sixthgles), freshman Alex Dominguez (No. 3 place finish at the 2006 MCC Chamsingles) and sophomore Joel King (No. pionships. What he may not have 4 singles) all picked up points for Gospredicted was a fourth-place finish – the hen at the weekend’s tournament. program’s highest since equaling that “I am pleased that we were a much finish in 2003 – coupled with a doubles improved and more competitive team in title.

2007 than in any of the previous three After posting a 4-2 regular-season years,” explained King. “Through our record at the No. 1 doubles spot, Senior MCC round robin record was the same Beakel Girma teamed with first-year in 2006, our 2007 losses were extremeSashi Sabanathan for Goshen’s first ly close.” championship since the tournament In fact, those five losses came by moved to a flighted format in 2000. just a combined 11 team points, includThe pair made quick work of Grace ing 4-5 decisions against Marian ColCollege in a 8-3 win in the opening lege and Indiana Wesleyan University. round before knocking off the secondThe Maple Leafs certainly made the seeded Bethel College tandem of Kiko most of their wins, taking a 9-0 victory Cortez and Jered Shriner 8-6. The win over Grace College and 8-1 decisions put them in the final with fourth-seeded over Anderson University and Indiana Ben Bischoff and Micah May, which University-Southeast. they won by a 8-4 count.

Expectations now shift to the 2008 Sabanathan and Girma led the Maple season. While King has lost a two-time Leafs all season as Goshen went 4-6 All MCC performer in Girma, his numoverall and 2-5 in MCC play and the bers two through six from a year ago pair were both named to the All Conferwere all underclassmen. “I am expectence team. ing a strong group of returning players, Sabanathan also reached the chamand am hoping that our new recruits pionship round at No. 2 singles before will be able to fill gaps,” added King.

Ninth-year head coach Stan King It was the secondstraight All MidCentral Conference selection for senior Beakel Girms (top) as he teamed with freshman Sashi Sabanathan to win the program’s first MCC title since the tournament went to the flighted format in 2000.

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Goshen College Athletics

Point Of No Return

Women’s Tennis

Senior dominated team moves up the MCC ranks

B

ehind seniors Dianna Diaz and Laurelyn Foderaro, the Goshen College women’s tennis team finished 2008 a slot above a year ago with a seventh-place finish at the MCC Tournament in Fort Wayne. After a disapointing 2007 tournament ended with first-round losses in both singles and doubles, Foderaro, from Harrleysville, Pennsylvania, regrouped and made a spectacular run which finished with runner-up honors in both fields.

Teaming with fellow senior Diaz in No. 1 doubles, the pair took out Spring Arbor in the opening round before knocking off top-seeded Kristin Goeke and Katie Marsh of Taylor in the semifinal. The tandem would eventually lose 9-8 (8-6) in the championship match against a gritty Huntington pair.

At No. 2 singles, Foderaro started strong, losing just one game in her first two matches, propelling herself into the finals. Foderaro would fall just short of her first MCC title once again as she dropped a 3-6, 3-6 decision to Taylor’s Kristine Bolinger immediately following her doubles championship match.

The Lady Maple Leafs finished the regular season with a 4-7 overall record and 1-7 in MCC play, but that told only part of the story. “We were competitive in all of them (conference matches),” said head coach Sarah Yoder of her team, which scored at least three points in 7-of-8 matches. “But we struggled to win third sets and tiebreakers all year.” Goshen’s lone conference win came in a 7-2 thrashing of St. Francis.

“As a team we have to improve on how we deal with pressure situations. It was never an issue of not working hard enough,” said the third-year leader Yoder. “This comes from playing lots and lots of competitive tennis all year round.”

All four of Goshen’s points at the MCC Championships were off the racquets of seniors Diaz and Foderaro leaving a gaping hole for 2008. “We will greatly miss all three of our seniors in Diana, Laurelyn and Janie (Beck),” Yoder said following the MCC tournament.

“Already our younger players are talking about ways to work on our game in the off-season and I think they see how we will need everyone to step up next year and take on larger roles on the team.”

Diana Diaz (left) earned her third-straight All Mid-Central Conference honor, while Laurelyn Foderaro (right and top right) earned her second in her two years at Goshen after finishing as the runner-up in No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles at the MCC Championships in Fort Wayne.

www.GoLeafs.net

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The end of One of the deadliest strikers Janzen credits teammates &

t 14 he ne h t f o back r wit nd the h his caree oshen. u o f n s G i Janze to fin all-time at espite being the target of conTony s a senior sixth a r s o e f stant double teams, fouls, and tim ood als, g 44 go various other strategies to hold him

D

Tony Janzen

Full Name: Anthony Robert Janzen Born: November 14th, 1985 Hometown: Elkhart, Ind. Position: Forward Major: Physical Education

Career highlights: NOV. 10, 2004 As a freshman, scored tying goal in NAIA Region semifinal at Madonna University.

NOV. 14-15, 2006 The junior helped lead Goshen to its first NAIA National Tournament appearance since 1977.

SEPT. 15, 2007 Second career hat-trick to lead Goshen past Eastern Mennonite for first time since 1969.

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Goshen College Athletics

down, Tony Janzen still managed to find the back of the net 14 times in 2007, moving him into sixth place all-time on Goshen College’s career goal-scoring chart with 44 goals.

While understanding that his successes on the field as an individual and a team have made him somewhat of a campus celebrity, Janzen downplays the status saying, “Maybe its just because I have been around so long.” Rather he would give credit to his teammates explaining, “The whole team works so hard passing the ball around and looking for openings. I am so often just the last step, get to finish it off and get the credit. I guess it just comes with the position.”

His theory has some merit as most of the recognizable names in international soccer are the typical goal-scorers. Some would say that is the safe or politically correct answer, but dig a little bit deeper and go back a ways and you will understand his sincerity.

A standout midfielder at local Elkhart Central High School, Janzen made a big move his senior season. With his team desperate for some help on the defensive side of the ball, Janzen moved into a central defensive role.

“I was better suited at that time to contribute to the team in that role,” explained Janzen, who was named his team’s MVP following that senior season.

Playing mostly as an outside midfielder in his freshman season at Goshen, Janzen made another move to help the team. “I realized that we were losing a few guys up top and did not have a lot coming up at that position,” says Janzen of his move to striker, where he had limited experience.

“It was about being flexible,” explained Janzen, adding, “There were definitely growing pains. It takes a major change in mentalities and getting rid of habits from different positions.”

He could have fooled the fans at the Goshen College Soccer Complex. Janzen went on to score 30 goals in his first three seasons as a Maple Leaf and was a huge part of the 2006 squad that earned the programs first berth into the NAIA National Championship since 1977.

Following that magical 2006 season, Janzen was called into a leadership role as a captain for his senior season. Again, Janzen did not want much of the credit for a 2007 team that reached the Region VIII championship game for the second-consecutive year, “I like to lead, but I learned at times I needed to follow at times too.”

an era

in Goshen history, looks to the future While Janzen and his fellow seniors were disappointed to not reach another NAIA National Tournament, Janzen has learned to move to the next phase of his life.

“It (soccer at Goshen) was one part of my life and I really enjoyed it,” said Janzen, who hopes to get a chance to be just a fan next year. “I will probably stand there by myself, just watching. It will be good to see what happens from a fans standpoint.”

Community Feeling

A few things were near a certainty in Janzen’s career: the forward would find himself scoring chances and Dave and Cindy Janzen would be in the stands. Citing its proximity to his family and its close-knit community, Janzen chose Goshen for its relationship focus. Finding relationships on and off the field has been a big part of Janzen’s experience in his four years at Goshen and he hopes to remain focused on that in years to come. A physical education major, Janzen plans to student-teach next year, while also serving as an assistant coach at Goshen High School. Using that as a barometer of sorts for a future career in the pair of vocations, Janzen is most concerned with doing something where he can relate to people and have meaningful interactions with them. Just call it increasing his community or family.

Janzen sig Tavi M ned with Gosh ounsith iraj as a en Head Coac at Elkha h high sch rt ool Dave an Central. Pictu red with senior d mothe r Cindy , avid fa father ns.

www.GoLeafs.net

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Winning

A slow start followed by A strong finish; A pair of All Americans; A second-straight trip to the Region Championship; All things that fans are starting to expect to see from the Goshen College men’s soccer program

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Goshen College Athletics

MEN’S SOCCER

Tradition

Following a magical 2006 season

Despite a pre-season NAIA ranking of 16th in the nation – the that saw the Maple Leafs reach the program’s highest preseason rankNAIA National Tournament for the ing in its 49-year history – Mounfirst time since 1977, it was hard sithiraj and others were unsure to keep expectations from being of how the team would respond sky-high. But the realist would to such an emotional run a year recognize that Goshen had lost earlier. significant pieces to graduation, Things got off to a little bit of a including one of the best players to shaky start for the Maple Leafs as ever wear a Maple Leaf uniform in they begun the season 0-3-1, often three-time MCC Defensive Player outplaying their opponents, but of the Year Joel Miller. having difficulties finding the back “I was not quite sure what to of the net at key times. Goshen expect after a run at nationals and would rebound – despite sevlosing several key players,” said eral key injuries, including losing seventh-season head coach Tavi freshman goalkeeper Trent Moody Mounsithiraj. “No one expected for the season – to go 9-2-1 over us to finish the way we did.” their next twelve games.

The Maple Leafs’ run set up a regular-season finale with Indiana Wesleyen where a win would give Goshen a share of the MCC regular-season championship for the third straight season. Over 1,500 fans were witness to a spectacular defensive struggle. Even though the Maple Leafs had the better of the first-half chances – forcing four saves, including several on a scramble in the box – the Wildcats used a direct free kick to take a 1-0 lead, which they would never relinquish.

The Maple Leafs did not let the lack of a regular-season title deter them, as they pulled off a thrilling double-overtime victory over St. Francis in the opening round of the MCC Tournament.

Having wasted an early 2-0 lead and playing a man down after a late red card, Tony Janzen put Goshen through with one of the most important goals of his storied career.

Goshen would roll past Marian 2-0 in the semifinals before dropping another one-goal decision to Indiana Wesleyan in the finals.

However, their second-place finish in the tournament still booked them a place in the Region VIII for the second-straight season.

just two shots on goal, with their best chance coming in the waning moments as a Kyle Stiffney header struck off the woodwork effectively ending the season and the career of eight Goshen seniors.

While it wasn’t the storybook ending everyone desired, Mounsithiraj was upbeat about the year saying, “I was quite pleased with how the team came together all season long with injuries. I had no idea All Americans how we would stack up against our opponents, Kyle Stiffney and Tony Janzen but we did rise to the challenge and competed Managing to find the net twice well.” on the road, the Maple Leafs upset The awards again came falling Aquinas – while Madonna knocked on the Maple Leafs as Stiffney, off Indiana Wesleyan – giving Gos- Janzen, and Rusty Emery all were hen a surprise opportunity to host named to the All Conference teams. the Region Championship game Stiffney and Janzen were also with a trip to nationals on the line. recognized as All Region and NAIA Madonna forward Doran Drai All American Honorable Mention. caused early problems for the For Janzen, his 14 goals gave him Maple Leafs with his speed and 44 for his career, ranking him sixth made Goshen pay just eleven minall-time at Goshen. Stiffney conutes in when he struck from a sharp tinued a four-year stretch for the angle to put the Crusaders up 1-0.

Maple Leafs by being named the The Maple Leafs would manage MCC Defensive Player of the Year, “Overall our program is moving in the right direction and improving year after year,” added Mounsithiraj. “Our goal is to continue to challenge for the MCC Championship and now that we have a taste for what it is to play at the national tournament, we will continue to work hard for that ultimate prize. In the mean time, the guys will continue to work hard to improve on and off the field.” www.GoLeafs.net

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Goshen College Athletics

FAN

The Goshen Soccer Complex is one of the most feared places to play in the MCC, and not just because the teams that play there. The fans strike fear into opponents.

BASE

“Maple Leafs rock, Maple Leafs rock, Maple Leafs rock the house,” sings the student section at the Goshen College Soccer Complex. One of their numerous chants, the Maple Leafs’ fans have one for nearly every situation.

From rhymes letting their displeasure with officials being known, to a song based on the Goshen College core values, to trying to entice substitutes to display their dancing ability – or lack thereof – the student section is loud and proud all game long.

“We probably have the best fan support ever in the small college soccer scene in the state of Indiana, if not the country,” said Goshen men’s soccer head coach Tavi Mounsithiraj of the Maple Leaf faithful, who stand for the entire 90-minute game. “These fans are amazing.”

From painted faces, a fan dressed as maple leaf running into the field, and even an unfortunate instance of a streaker, Mounsithiraj said, “With that we know we are a big-time soccer program.”

The fans have proven to be beneficial to the players on the field as well. Most would readily admit that playing in front of a large and boisterous crowd makes it easier to stir up the competitive instincts in a player. The stats do not lie. In the past six years, the Goshen College men’s soccer team is an incredible 40-10-8 in the friendly confines of the Goshen College Soccer Complex.

“The fans do play a role on our success as a program,” explains Mounsithiraj. “I just can not thank them enough

for what their support means to our players and coaching staff.”

Senior forward Tony Janzen chose to play for the Maple Leafs in part because he recognized the fan base and the special tradition with soccer fans at Goshen, saying “It makes for a fun environment to play in. It definitely motivates you a little more.”

“Coming from a program that would have maybe a few hundred at best at soccer games, it is one of the things that excited me most about Goshen,” explains new Sports Information Director Josh Gleason. “Fans have a passion, but also strong knowledge about the sport. When I haven’t been at games, I have heard the fans from inside my apartment a mile away.”

One of the more infamous chants coming from the student section involves pressuring substitutes to display their dancing skills before entering the game. While the crowd cheers the “sprinkler”, an Irish line dance, or even slow dancing with a fellow substitute, they greet a uninterested player with a chorus of boos. The Maple Leafs know how to play to a crowd, but visiting players are often caught off guard and spend more time and energ trying to ignore the crowd’s unique greeting than on what their job is on the field.

“You would be surprised at what you can hear on the field,” said Janzen. “I would say well over half of the (home and visiting) players look over to see what kind of dance the player will be doing.” www.GoLeafs.net

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A

CLASS Act

>>

Led by Head Coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj, the Lady Maple Leafs take care of business on the field and in the classroom the right way.

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WOMEN’S SOCCER Goshen College Athletics

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into place.” or Women’s Soccer Head Coach While Mounsithiraj is excited Thavisith Mounsithiraj, or “Coach T” about the possibility of improving for short, results matter. Those results on-field results, what really gets him have come in various forms in Coach excited is his team’s off the field reT’s six-year tenure at Goshen. sults. “More importantly to me, as a On the field his Maple Leaf squad coach and an educator, is our achievestruggled at times to get the desired ment in the classroom,” explained results throughout a 4-10-3 (2-4-2 Mounsithiraj.

MCC) 2007 campaign. But don’t let For the fifth consecutive year, the the record fool you. The results were Goshen College women’s soccer team closer than they seemed. was recognized by Goshen posted the “Our win-loss the National Soccolumns say oth- second-highest team G.P.A. cer Coaches Assoin the nation, at any level, erwise, but I am ciation of America with a cumulative 3.63. very encouraged,” (NSCAA) as earnsaid Mounsithiraj ing a NSCAA Team of the Leafs, who lost six games by Academic award. two goals or less. “There is reason In 2007, 302 women’s college to be optimistic. First of all, we had and university teams from across a strong showing in our conference the country earned the honor. The play.” teams represent all levels of collegiate with this tradition,” said Mounsithiraj, who has coached approximately 24 The Maple Leafs brutal Midcompetition, from NCAA Division Academic All Americans in his six Central Conference schedule included I through the NAIA. Of these 302 years. “It is expected.” a 1-0 loss to Spring Arbor University, teams, Goshen posted the secondMounsithiraj takes things a step an overtime loss at Huntington Unihighest team grade point average in further as he not only expects results versity, and ties against Marian Colthe nation, at any level, with a cumuon the field and in the classroom, but lege and Grace College. lative mark of 3.63.

“Basically we had three or four In addition to their team “It is expected.” Coach T looks for success as he develops leaders. well-contested matches in conference recognition, the Maple - Coach T Each year, Coach T and play that could have put us at 5-3 or Leafs had four players his captains work through a book on even 6-2 in this very tough conferhonored as Daktronics- NAIA Acaleadership in a small group setting, ence,” added Mounsithiraj. demic All- Americans. The award is While the Maple Leafs will lose bestowed on junior or senior student- giving them a unique opportunity to graduating seniors Sara Groff and All athletes who have maintained a mini- learn skills that will equip them no matter what “field” they choose to Mid-Central Conference selection mum of a 3.5 grade point average.

Lucy Roth, Goshen will return nine “I am very certain we will continue pursue. starters in 2008. “It is anticipated that we will have the most skilled and experienced group returning since I have been here,” said Coach T as he prepares for next season.

“The atmosphere at our weekly training sessions this off-season are both intense and competitive in anticipation for the coming season.” With six newcomers headed to Goshen, Mounsithiraj “can only imagine the possibilities should everything fall www.GoLeafs.net

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2008 Golf

On The Links I

n head coach Cory Furman’s fourth and final season at the helm of the Goshen College golf team, the program made several improvements.

“Our goal every year has been to improve both individually and collectively, and we were able to do that in a multitude of ways this season,” Furman said.

The Maple Leafs’ displayed the improvement as they bested several team marks during Furman’s tenure. In 2007, Goshen had its best overall scoring average (354), Mid-Central Conference Championship average (359.3) and the lowest round away from home (337). The lowest away-round came on September 27th as the Leafs played at the Grace College Invitational at the Rozella Ford Golf Course.

Just a week before the MCC Conference Championships, Goshen swept past Purdue University-North Central 354-383. In doing so, they improved their mark at Briar Leaf Golf Club from the previous year by 38 strokes.

The Maple Leafs took ninth-place at the MCC Championships held at Noble Hawk Golf Links in Kendalville on October 1-2nd. Player’s roughed out 36 holes on Monday before playing a final 18 on Tuesday at the

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Goshen College Athletics

par-71 course. The weather was unfriendly as wet and windy conditions made Noble Hawk an even tougher course than usual.

Freshman Taylor TenHarmsel led the Leafs in two of the three rounds as he tallied a 85 in round one before firing a 81 on Tuesday. TenHarmsel’s 81 was the low score for Goshen in any round at the event.

“Taylor really came on strong for us this year and he showed some signs of big promise,” said Furman.

Shawn Martz led the Maple Leafs in the second round of the Championships as he shot a 83. “Shawn really surprised a lot of people in the first two rounds. He had an 89, 83 on Monday, and that was not an easy day at all to play. Walking 36 is tough, and Shawn played his game brilliantly,” added Furman.

Indiana Wesleyan took the team title at Noble Hawk as they edged out defending champions Bethel College 890892. Just eight strokes separated the top four teams, a sign that Mid-Central Conference officials said made for the most competitive championship event in league history.

“Overall, it was a great year,” Furman said. “We had a great guys who really enjoy being a part of this and in turn, made it really fun for me.”

Profile

Far From Home

Few fans outside the Roman Gingerich

Rec-Fitness Center know just how far Peni Acayo has come. Just a few years ago, the freshman outside hitter didn’t even know Indiana existed. The Kampala, Uganda native was greeting neighbors, going to school, preparing meals, having evening tea, and practicing her sport on the outdoor courts in the east African country she calls home.

Less than a year after coming to the States, Acayo has adjusted to a new country, style of volleyball, teammates, and culture. She was certainly a quick study, being named First Team All Mid-Central Conference, as well as MCC and NAIA Region VIII Freshman of the Year.

After a friend introduced Acayo to Indiana and the MCC, she eventually chose Goshen

for its Christian values and educational opportunities. Accustomed to the warm weather of Uganda – with a yearly average temperature in the 60s – Acayo came to Goshen with a fleece as her heaviest article of clothing. The weather and food have been a shock to Acayo, but her teammates and coaches have made the adjustment much easier. While teammates showed her the ropes – including what foods go together in the dining hall – her coaches helped her psychologically beat the cold winter.

The adjustment has been just as big on the court, although you wouldn’t know by the stats. With different play sets, signals, and even players arrangements on the court, Acayo had to quickly learn a new way to play.

The first to downplay her own success and deflect it onto her teammates, Acayo came to Goshen with nerves about how she would

Peni Acayo Adjusts To Life In A New School, Country, and Playing Style adapt. While she was successful in high school in Uganda, Acayo had seen videos of Goshen and other MCC schools and was impressed by the talent level. Now the rest of the MCC is impressed with her.

The awards followed, although Acayo had trouble attaching much value to them because she really wasn’t familiar with them at first. She has since been honored, but is more worried about the future of her team. She sees a bright future ahead for the team and herself and is using the track season to keep in shape and further train her body.

Competing in the jumping events (long, high, and triple jump) can only add to her skills at the net. In her very first outdoor event, Acayo broke a decade-old school record in the triple jump. Then, at the MCC Championships, the freshman won the high jump to earn all-conference honors in her second sport in just her first year at Goshen.

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Local sophomore’s Allison Hawkins Mid-Central Conference wins for the Gos- (Middlebury, Ind.) and Brittany Herschberger (Goshen, Ind.) were both named hen College volleyball program. In one honorable mention All MCC, while the of the most talent-rich conferences in the biggest impact came from well outside the nation, wins simply do not come easy. state lines. All the way from Kampala, A 30-24, 25-30, 30-21, 30-28 home Uganda, Peni Acayo blasted her way to victory over Spring Arbor on September 5th brought the nearly two-year long streak First-Team All Conference honors. In leading the conference with 4.59 kills a to a halt.

The win was also the game, the outside hitter was named MCC first conference-opening and NAIA Region VIII Freshman of the triumph for the Maple Year.

Leafs since the 2003 “We have a lot of talent and there is a season. strong competitive spirit in our volleyball What looked like a simple program right now,” said Lehman. “Pernumber in the win column was so haps the most remarkable aspect is that we much more. It signified a change in the program and a start of something have quite a few young players who are coming on strong and will no doubt move new. into the top of the conference statistical Head Coach Jewel Lehman is excited about what the year brought categories in the future.”

While the one win definitely set the exclaiming “What a year this was! tone, it was far from a The energy in “The energy in our one-and-done season. our program is program is build- The Maple Leafs placed building as we second at the competibegin to see what ing as we begin tive University of Michithese fine young to see what these gan Dearborn Collegiate athletes can do.”

Challenge in late SepLehman and fine young athtember, where Acayo the rest of the was named to the All letes can do.”

MCC certainly Tournament Team. recognized After dropping four consecutive conquickly that Goshen was young, but also very talented. Three different Maple Leafs ference matches, the team made it an extra-special senior night for graduating were honored by the Mid-Central Conferteammates Jessica Buller and Stephanie ence coaches at the end of the season, and Kennell. After dropping the opening game all three were underclassmen.

Exactly twenty-three months past between

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Goshen College Athletics

19-30, the Maple Leafs responded by winning the next two and battled for a 19-30, 30-27, 30-24, 23-30, 11-15 win over the University of St. Francis. It marked the first time in the last decade that Goshen knocked off the Cougars.

With a final record of 15-14 (2-6 MCC), the Maple Leafs won more games than the last two seasons combined (5-23 in 2006 and 6-25 in 2005). In four of the losses in 2007, Goshen took the opponent to five games. What is even more impressive is that in three of those matches, the Maple Leafs actually outscored the opponent in total points: University of Michigan Dearborn (Sept. 28), Huntington University (Oct 5), and Grace College (Oct 9).

“While we are not completely satisfied with our overall record, we are pleased with our progress and an-

ticipate much success in the future,” tallied 1,106 assists in 2007. Her 10.5 explained Lehman. The fourth-year per game was the second-highest total head coach adds, “We in the MCC, while are playing much more classmate Herschbergcompetitively than in the er was in the top 15 in past two years with this the MCC in digs with group of strong and tal3.6 per game. Yet anented athletes. It is exother sophomore, Ashciting to see the growth ley Janssen, finished of these young players in the top 20 with 0.6 throughout the year.” blocks a game.

While the losses of With the addition of Kennell and Buller are recruits Katelyn Yoder significant, Lehman (Mason, Mich.) and will have a lot to work Indigo Miller (Colowith for years to come. rado Springs, Colo.), Sophomore OH In addition to leading the future is definitely Brittany Herschberger bright. the conference in kills, reigning Freshman of the MCC Honorable Mention A single win Year Acayo ranked sixth snapped a long-streak, in hitting percentage and eighth in but a squad full of talent is looking to service aces. turn over a new leaf and re-write the Sophomore setter Allison Hawkins story of Goshen volleyball.

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Women’s

Cross country

W a t P ch ork Head Coach Doug Yoder and his season. At the Hokum Karem Relays found a way to finish sixth at the 2007 Maple Leaf team had to deal hosted by Goshen, Harnish and Tina Cedarville University Cross Country with a lot more adversity than most Peters combined for the top spot – the Open despite missing two of their top years. Having graduated All-Amerunique format calls for teammates five runners. ican Petrana Petkova and NAIA Nato alternate mile-long stretches until Two weeks later, Goshen was in the tional Championship participant Lau- each has completed five miles. same predicament, but finished fifth ra Herr, it was safe to say that 2007 A week later, Harnish took her first at Benedictine with just five runners, was a rebuilding year. Add the minimum for team scor“Many of the runners were first-time to that injuries and athletes ing. In between the two events, having to miss events for team members and needed to get a feel Harnish won her second event academics and a ninth-place of the season as she finished in finish at the NAIA Region for the collegiate level of training and 19:08.87 and led the Leafs to a VIII meet seems like a an fourth-place finish at Bethel. competition.” - Doug Yoder extraordinary patch job by Following another sixthYoder and his team. collegiate individual title at Defiance place mark at the Manchester College Even when junior Laura Harnish College. Her time of 18:58.72 led Invitational, the Leafs headed into the qualified for her second-straight three Goshen runners in the top 15, MCC Championships. Again, it was NAIA Nationals appearance, her which led the Leafs to second place.

Harnish who led the way – the junior event was cut short due to injury.

“There was enough of a mix of finished in the top spot for Goshen in “The women’s team went through returnees and new runners to provide each of its eight races – as the Leafs a rebuilding year,” explained Yoder. a balance,” added Yoder. “With a battled for seventh place.

“Many of the runners were first-time year of experience we will be able At the Region VIII meet in Grand members and needed to get a feel for to build and push our goals to finish Rapids, Mich. Harnish placed seventh the collegiate level of training and higher in the MCC.” – good to qualify for nationals – while competition.”

After a chance to run against the Rachael Baker finished just two spots Despite the odds seemingly highest level of collegiate competiback of joining Harnish with a 21ststacked against them, the Maple Leafs tion – the Indiana Intercollegiate meet place finish of 19:17.99. Goshen had came firing out of the gate, taking featuring NCAA DI, DII, DII and four runners finish in the top 100 as second in the first two events of the NAIA institutions – the Maple Leafs they took ninth overall.

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Goshen College Athletics

Standing (L to R): Assistant Coach Mark Furkis, Assistant Coach Lyle Miller, Alex Lo PoMan, Tina Peters, Head Coach Doug Yoder, Marie Shank, Rachael Baker, Assistant Coach Rustin Nyce, Assistant Coach Petrana Petkova...Kneeling (L to R): Michelle Miller, Laura Harnish, Laura Stoesz, Bekah DePry, Bethany Loberg, Maria Byler, Tessa Horst, Renee Miller.

Harnish’s Historic Season In one of the finest seasons in history, junior Laura Harnish finished in the top spot for Goshen in each of the team’s eight races. The Flanagan, Illinois native also won a pair of races as she took the title at the Bethel College Invitational and the Defiance College Invitational.

At the Mid-Central Conference meet, Harnish ran to a time of 19:11.32 and finished fourth, earning her All MCC recognition. Two weeks later at the NAIA Region VIII meet, Harnish raced to a time of 18:50.52 to finish seventh – a finish that would book her second-consecutive trip to the NAIA National Championships.

“Laura had an outstanding season and worked very hard to earn her spot at the NAIA National Meet,” said Head Coach Doug Yoder.

It was in Kenosha, Wisc. – at NAIA Nationals – where her season ended unexpectantly. Just a mile in, Harnish turned her left foot and forcing the junior to end the race and her historic season a little early.

“It was disappointing to end up with a foot fracture in the race but those are things that happen that you accept and move on,” said Yoder. “I am sure her goals are even higher for this coming season.” Harnish will have one last year to repeat her success and make a storybook ending to an outstanding career.

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Pack MENTALITY Showing an uncanny ability to stick close together –

5-of-8 of the Maple Leafs traditional races – including much like a pack – the Goshen College men’s cross coun- the MCC Championships – Bouwman was named to the MCC All Conference Team. try team finished fourth in the Mid-Central Conference.

“Ben being all conference was wellThe Maple Leafs bunched up, often deserved,” said Yoder. “He has worked placing their top runners mere minutes hard all season and has gained a lot of from each other. The pattern repeated confidence in his running. He is not throughout the season as the top three intimidated by anyone.” runners changed on any given day.

With a roster of 16, the Maple Leafs At the MCC Championships in Indiacharged into the season-opening Hokum napolis, the Maple Leafs top six runners Karem Championships in Goshen. In a all finished within two and half minutes unique format, runners are paired with a of each other. Leading the way was teammates and take turns running onesophomore Ben Bouwman, who finished mile increments. The total time is the the 10K race in 26:56.25. mark for the pair after each runner totals “A fourth-place finish is a great acfive miles. The result for Goshen was a complishment in a very tough conferco-championship with Huntington – the ence,” said head coach Doug Yoder.

The accomplishment becomes even Ben Bouwman Maple Leafs first-ever win in the event – as both the Maple Leafs and the Forrestgreater with the fact that the Maple ers tallied eleven points.

Leafs had not finished as high as fourth in the MCC since As the season shifted to the road, Goshen was able to 1992, over a decade ago. display its depth and pack mentality. After a third-place After earning the top-finishing spot for Goshen in

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Goshen College Athletics

THE MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY TEAM RELIED ON STRENGTH IN NUMBERS IN 2007

finish at Defiance, the Maple Leafs top three runners played their depth. Ten Goshen runners finished in less finished within 25 seconds of each other at the Intercolthan twenty-nine minutes as the Leafs took third again. legiate Championships at Purdue.

After the historic finish at the MCC Championships, Goshen continued to stick close together as the top five the Maple Leafs went in search for some more history at finished within two minutes at the Cedarville Open before the NAIA Region VIII Championships in Grand Rapthe team depth really started to ids, Mich. Goshen certainly “Our seniors will be missed...They pay off at the Bethel Invitationfound it after twelve of the al. Maple Leafs finished first, provided a model for our younger Leafs 14 runners finished second, and fifth as Goshen in under thirty minutes for runners in athletics as well as in won its first event title in the the first time in their history. past ten years. Bouwman again non-athletic settings.” -Doug Yoder The Maple Leafs say goodbye led the Maple Leafs, posting a to seniors Jake Gillette, Nick time of 27:05. 30, while Goshen had three runners under Adkins, and Randy Keener, who have been anchors on 28 minutes, seven under the 29-minute mark, and nine both the cross country and the track teams during their finish in less than thirty. careers at Goshen.

A week later, the Maple Leafs had six athletes finish “They have provided leadership in competition as well within three minutes of each other as they placed third in as at practice,” Yoder said. “They have provided a model the 21-team Benedictine University Eagle Invitational in for our younger runners in athletics as well as in non-athLisle, Illinois. letic settings. They will be hard to replace and the hope Goshen finished the regular season with the Manis that some of our younger runners will step up and take chester College Invitational where the Leafs again disthe challenge.” www.GoLeafs.net

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Men’s Basketball

The Transition Game The Quick Adjustment to a new Head Coach led to one of the most successful seasons in school history.

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Expectations were not exactly what

University Cougars. Errick McCollum scored a game-high 34 points you would call significant comas Goshen overcame ing into the 2007-08 a four-point halftime season. In fact, the deficit to shock the then Goshen College men’s undefeated Cougars. basketball team was The win put Goshen picked to finish dead back on the map as they last in the Mid-Central received votes in the Conference. weekly NAIA rankTruth is, for the outings, which they would sider anyway, there was repeat two more times not much of a reason to during the season. expect anything. After The Maple Leafs all, they were less than would not lose two a year removed from consecutive games until a 12-18 campaign that First-year Head Coach mid-January as they saw them miss the faced Top 15 Bethel Gary Chupp season-ending conferCollege and Grace Colence tournament. They lege in back-to-back had a new coach who was hired very contests. However, as the conference late in the recruiting process. How season moved on, Goshen would could they make much of an impact? begin to struggle with consistency.

Someone forgot to tell the Maple “We showed this season that we Leafs. Or perhaps, too many people could play at a very high level, but told them they weren’t supposed to there is such a fine line in terms of win. Either way, the Leafs did some- having success in the MCC,” exthing about it. Nineteen wins later, plained first-year head coach Gary including four against NAIA Top 25 Chupp. teams, and doubters have come to The Maple Leafs were able to derealize their mistake in judgment. feat No. 20 University of St. Francis Typically it takes players some by 30 points on the road, but had time to adjust to a new coach and trouble holding onto halftime leads at system. However, this team was hun- home against Spring Arbor, Huntinggry for success and had more experi- ton, and Bethel. Goshen knocked off ence than in years past. They quickly took off as they won ten of their first eleven while taking the championship in both the Anderson University Sam Pierce Classic and the Sienna Heights Maple City Classic. Their only defeat in that stretch was a 62-65 loss in the championship game of Goshen’s Maple City Hoopfest to Aquinas College, who was ranked in the NAIA Top 25 all year and finished the season in the Elite Eight.

With a 9-1 record at the start of the MCC season there were still doubters within the conference ranks.

That came to a screeching halt on December 1st when the Maple Leafs hosted the No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan

#20 Taylor University and #14 Grace, but needed a miraculous performance by senior Brice Hartman to survive against struggling Marian College at home. Hartman scored 16 points in the final seven-plus minutes of regulation – including the tying shot with four seconds remaining – as the Maple Leafs came from 20 down.

They would win 77-75 in overtime.

The lack of consistency hurt Goshen as they lost their final two games of the regular season to slip to seventh, which forced a road game against Grace to open the MCC Tournament. A 68-83 loss ended the Maple Leafs’ season.

“I feel good about what we were able to accomplish, but am disappointed with how the season ended.

We were in the hunt to host a playoff game until the final week of the season. However, it was disappointing having three chances to get twenty wins, and coming away empty,” added Chupp.

It wasn’t all for lost as the Leafs finished just one win short of the twenty-win plateau, reached just twice in program history. While they will lose second-leading scorer Brice Hartman, they return a strong nucleus, including First Team All MCC and NAIA All American Honorable Mention selection Errick McCollum.

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Brice Hartman Alters Goshen Record Book in Senior Season difference in Goshen College.

“With the college being Mennonite, I had no real basis of legiate career is far from an ideal situation, but that is what that meant,” explains Hartman. “The atmosphere is exactly the situation senior Brice Hartman was facing this completely different.” While admitting that it took some past summer after the resignation of Goshen College Head time to get used to, Hartman now appreciates the change Coach Stan Daugherty. and positive environment. Hartman recognizes “How Growing up just twenty minutes down the road in people act and are is different than those I was used to beElkhart, Hartman knew little about Goshen College or ing around.”

Mennonites in general before coming to campus. What Hartman wasted little time making an impact on the he did know was basketball. The court, playing in 59 of Goshen’s 62 “How people act and are, is 6’6” forward averaged 16 points games in his freshman and sophoand 4.3 rebounds a game while different than those I was more years. In just his second leading basketball crazed Elkhart used to being around.” career game, the forward hit 7-ofCentral High School to a 31-16 11 from the field, scoring fifteen record over his junior and senior points and grabbing seven rebounds in a win over Indiana seasons.

University-East.

Wanting to stay close to home and have an opportunity Two years later as a junior, Hartman was a vital part of to contribute right away, Hartman decided to continue his the Maple Leaf offense. In November of 2006, he rattled academic and athletic career in a Maple Leaf uniform. off four straight games of 20-plus points leading Goshen Having visited other college campuses throughout the to three wins. Set to once again be a major factor for Gosfinal years of high school it took little time to notice the hen as a senior, Hartman heard the news of Daugherty’s

A coaching change before the final season of a col-

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Goshen College Athletics

departure.

He had every excuse not to buy into Hartman’s career was a historic “I was disappointed at first,” Hart- what we were trying to accomplish, one. He finished ranked in the top man said, especially with the timing but he chose instead ten in Goshen hisbeing before his senior year. “I did to work his tail off tory in six offensive go through a period of time where I and go out with an categories, includwasn’t sure if I wanted to play, but outstanding senior ing eighth in career being the competitor that I am, I had season.” points with 1,412. “I to finish it out.”

Unhope people remem“I did go through Hartman, along der the ber me as a good a period where with his teammates, direcall-around basketball were part of the player who always I wasn’t sure if I tion interview process for wanted to play, but of the had a good attitude a new head coach. firstand kept his compobeing the competiThey were immediyear sure on the court,” tor that I am, I had coach, ately impressed by added Hartman. to finish it out” the confidence and the “He will certainly win-now attitude of Maple be difficult to replace Brice Hartman because he can score Gary Chupp, who Leafs Elkhart, IN was eventually hired in May. “We got off to 10-1 start in so many different Major: Physical Education ways. There were felt we were good enough,” Hartman and finished the Positions: Guard/ Forward several times this said of his teammates. “We thought season just one win Height: 6’6” this could be a good year for us and short of the 20-win year where he put the we wanted a coach that was on the plateau, which has team on his back, and same page as us.” been reached just twice in the 54refused to let us lose,” said Chupp.

After a full season under Chupp’s year history of the program. About One such case was a January 23rd direction, which at first seemed so the teams rapid improvement on a home contest against Marian, which different, Hartman now sees a lot of 12-18 season a year ago, Hartman saw the Maple Leafs down 20 points similarities between his two coaches explains, “I think continuity had a lot with just seven minutes to play. at Goshen. Both coaches pride them- to do with it. A lot of players were Hartman would score sixteen points selves on the defensive side of the freshman last year. After a year in down the stretch, including a tough floor first, something Hartman has the league and playing together we jumper to tie the game with four secworked hard on throughout his career understand how to play together.” onds to play. Goshen would eventuand Chupp immediately ally go on to win in overtime. pushed Hartman to imMoving into the future, prove.

Hartman, a physical educa“I can’t say enough tion major, hopes to stay in about what Hartman the local community to teach has meant to this team and eventual begin a coachthis year,” said Chupp. ing career. His four years at “I knew from day one Goshen have taught him what when I got the job last it takes to study rigorously summer that he was while balancing athletics and going to be the key studies, much of which he atfor what kind of year tributes to physical education we would have. Brice professors Jewel Lehman and was put into a tough Val Hershberger. position, being the only senior, and having a coaching change going into his final season. www.GoLeafs.net

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PROFILE

NO REGRETS College basketball has helped Katie Sowers define herself outside of basketball

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W

Sowers of her high school career. “In hile preparing to play in her college I started to realize that basketfinal home game in a Goshen College ball doesn’t make you who you are. uniform, senior Katie Sowers looked I started to define myself outside of back on her two-years as a Maple Leaf basketball.” with no regrets.

Part of that definiDespite growing tion for Sowers is as up in Kansas, Sowers a leader. She was the has had a lifetime conlone senior on a Maple nection with Goshen Leafs team that is jamCollege and Menpacked with undernonite culture. Both classmen – eight to just of Katie’s parents are three upperclassmen.

Goshen alumni, along “It’s been interesting, with several other but I don’t see myself members of her exas any more of a leader tended family. After than I would have tried playing two-years at to be,” explains Sowsister school Hesston ers. “I really enjoy College, where her being a leader and Katie Sowers mom now works, it while being a senior seemed natural for has forced that on me, Hesston, KS Katie to join the fam- Major: Physical Education I would have tried to ily line and attend Positions: Guard/ Forward take that role anyway.”

Goshen.

“She is a natural Height: 5’8” While little about leader and teacher who Goshen caught her off guard, what has been a tremendous role model and surprised her was how much she influence on our younger players as would miss home. “I didn’t expect a true student-athlete,” said Goshen to miss it so much. It was the first head coach Steve Wiktorowski. Actime I was away from my twin siscording to Sowers, the 2007-08 Maple ter,” said Sowers about sister Liz who Leafs team was the closest of any she played with her at Hesston, but now has ever played on. Some of her best is a senior memories “Basketball doesn’t make at Oakland of Goshen University you who you are. I started will be the (Rochester, bus rides, to define myself outside of MI). “It overnight basketball” was really stays, and good for me to get away, branch out a casual time spent with the team. little bit, and meet new people on my Sowers has been a leader on the own.” court as well. Three times this season, The Sowers sisters were nearly the guard/ forward equaled her careerunstoppable in high school, losing high 16 points, including a sixteen just four league games in four years point, fourteen rebound performance at Hesston High School. While her on December 15th against Warner collegiate career has been less sucSouthern. “She is a great competicessful on the court – a combined tor who brings so much spirit and a 54-67 – Katie says that has helped her positive attitude to every practice and grow as a person. “I classified mygame,” adds Wiktorowski. “She really self as a basketball player,” explains developed offensively her senior year

and has been a major reason why we have been a much more competitive team overall compared to last year.”

Late in the season, Sowers and her teammates still had a lot to prove.

“We wanted to look past moral victories,” explains Sowers. “Pushing ourselves to be the best team we can be. We all know the talent that we do have and I think we can prove it when the tournament comes.”

After her business on the court was complete, Sowers turned her attention to finishing her physical education degree with eventual plans to combine it with a masters degree in social work. “I tell recruits to come because Goshen College is not only going to help you grow as a person but also as a student athlete, who has more than just athletic abilities.”

“Katie has done a great job in her two years here,” said Wiktorowski.

“She will be difficult to replace and very much missed next year. My only regret about Katie is that we only had her here for two years instead of all four.”

While Coach Wik and Maple Leafs fans might regret only getting to see her in action for two years, Sowers has little regrets about her time at Goshen.

“I have enjoyed basketball a lot more than I thought I would and enjoyed school related to basketball more too,” concluded Sowers, who was named a Daktronics- NAIA All American Scholar-Athlete in 2007-08.

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WI N G

BALL T E K S A ’S B WOMEN

G RO

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Goshen College Athletics

A

UP IN A HURRY

by as many as thirteen in the second half, Goshen pulled within one bedjusting from the high school fore freshman Cassie Greives nailed a game to the collegiate level play – in turn-around jumper as the final buzzer any sport – takes some time. sounded. The basket gave the Maple Despite the recent increase in the Leafs a 59-58 win and a 3-2 record five number of so-called “freshman phegames into the season. noms,” it is much more realistic to The end of the 2007 calendar year allow newcomers time to grow into the provided the typical ups and downs for college game. a young team. The Leafs defeated a Unfortunately, or fortunately in this tough Madonna University squad 67case, the Goshen but followed it “There were a lot of 60, College women’s with consecutive basketball team has positives from this season two-point losses had to learn quickagainst Warner ly. Saying that this and I saw a ton of growth Southern and Trinteam was young is and development.” ity International. an understatement “There were considering that six first-year players a couple close nonconference games and only one senior were on the roster. early in the season where I wish we Adding to the difficulty for a young could have played better,” Wiktorowski team was one of the tougher schedules explained. He added, “It took a little in the nation. “Over half the games while to find our roles and confidence on our schedule this year were against in each other with that much youth.” teams who were nationally ranked or Goshen would move into the bulk of honorable mention (NAIA DII) sometheir Mid-Central Conference campaign time this season,” said Head Coach with a 6-9 record. The Maple Leafs Steve Wiktorowski. would be thrown into the fire immediWith the odds seemingly stacked ately as two of their first four conferagainst them, the Maple Leafs shrugged ence games were against squads ranked off the situation and went to work. in the top 15 in the nation.

After falling 60-72 at Trinity Christian After picking up just one win in the to start the season, Goshen busted out brutal MCC a year ago, Goshen rallied to a 32-17 halftime advantage as they for five in 2007-08. A pair of outstandknocked off Indiana Tech 66-50 for ing team defensive efforts at home their 10th consecutive home-opening gave the Maple Leafs a 67-52 win over win.

Grace College and a 81-64 decision Just three games later, the Maple over Spring Arbor University. Goshen Leafs rallied for a late win on the road was also able to snatch wins in the final against Judson College. After trailing

minutes twice on the road with a 6665 win at Grace and a 70-67 victory at Marian College.

“I thought our biggest improvement really showed at the end of the season when we were so much more competitive overall against teams in our conference than a year ago,” added Wiktorowski.

Going into the final week of the regular season, the Maple Leafs found themselves in a very crowded middle of the pack in the MCC standings. A pair of wins would have put them as high as fifth place going into the conference tournament.

Instead, Goshen dropped a highlycompetitive game to Huntington University before getting bruised up in a physical 65-62 loss to Marian.

The losses pushed the Maple Leafs to eighth-place and forced a match up at top-seeded Bethel College. It was in Mishawaka where the season would end as Goshen fell in the first round to eventual NAIA national quarterfi-

nalist Bethel.

She shot an incredible 54% from “I think the season as a whole the field, which ranked in the top 15 was satisfying from an overall comin the country. The freshman also petitive and realisgrabbed a team-high tic standpoint,” said 220 rebounds (7.33 a Wiktorowki of his team game), which is the that nearly doubled its seventh highest singlewin total from a season season total in Goshen ago. “There were a history. On way to belot of positives to this ing selected to the MCC season and I saw a ton All Newcomer Team, of growth and developGreives registered ment.” seven double-doubles – Goshen (11-19, 5-11 tied for the most in the MCC) showed incredMCC. ible balance as only one In her final colMaple Leafs averaged legiate season, lone double-digits in scorMid-Central Conference senior Katie Sowers ing, while seven tallied also grabbed a pair of All Newcomer Team more than six a game. honors. The guard/ Cassie Greives Despite the balance foward from Hesston, and the time it takes most to adjust Kansas was recognized for her work to the college game, Goshen did off the court as she was named to have their own “freshman phenom.” the MCC All Academic Team and Six-foot center Cassie Greieves led selected as a Daktronics- NAIA All Goshen with 12.73 points a night.

American Scholar-Athlete.

Opposite Page (Top):

Cassie Greives fights for a basket against St. Francis. Greives led Goshen with 12.7 points a game.

Opposite Page (Middle):

Sophomore Ashley Hummer was second on the team in assists, 3-point percentage, and free throw percentage.

Opposite Page (Bottom):

Kimmie Hummer shoots a free throw. Hummer led the Maple Leafs with 74 assists.

Right: The 2007-08 Goshen women’s basketball team poses for a little fun.

Bottom Left: The Maple

Leafs were one of over 1,100 teams that celebrated Think Pink Day, raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research Bottom Middle: Junior Krystal Duensing flies down the court against St. Francis.

Bottom Right: Lindsay Gangloff provided spark off the bench, pictured here driving around a Grace College player.

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Indoor Track&Field The Goshen College Track and Field Team has made a name for themselves at the NAIA Indoor National Championships in the past few years.

Deanna Kronk Abri Houser Tina Peters

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Goshen College Athletics

Continuing the recent surge of championships by the Goshen College women’s track and field team, Tina Peters defended her 2007 title with another historic win March 7-8 at the NAIA Indoor National Championships in Johnson City Tennessee.

The 2007 indoor and outdoor national champion in the 3000-meter racewalk again “ran” away from the competition with a time of 15:22.42. While the time was ten seconds over her top-seeded qualifying time of 15:12.09, the sophomore still easily cruised by the field finishing nearly a minute and a half in front of second place (16:43.49).

“Tina did a real nice job,” explained Head Coach Rick Clark of the three-time All American. “She did exactly what she had to do.”

Peter’s becomes the holder of three of the seven national championships in the history of Goshen College athletics. As just a sophomore, Peter’s becomes the first Maple Leaf to hold three national titles. With an excellent chance at winning another at the outdoor championships in St. Louis, Peter’s could add a fourth national title in just two years.

“It is always nice to have someone on the awards stand,” added Clark.

“You don’t ever want to get used to that.”

Junior Deanna Kronk also made waves on the national stage as she earned All-American honors in the weight throw. The NorthWood High School product came into the championships ranked ninth in the field of twenty-four.

Having already broken her own school record twice this year – by a total of over three feet – Kronk again shattered her mark with a throw of 52’6 3/4” on her second attempt.

Adding another foot and a half to her school record, Kronk moved into the finals of the 20-pound weight throw in fourth place.

In her second career trip to the NAIA Indoor National Championships, Kronk finished the finals in fifth place earning her first All American honors (the top six finishers receive All American recognition).

Kronk narrowly missed out on All American honors in the hammer throw at the 2007 Outdoor National Championships in Fresno, California.

“Despite battling a cold, she (Kronk) really stepped up and performed well,” explained Clark. “She is our first ever All American in the weight throw. The interesting thing about track and field is that we can keep knocking off different events.”

The junior also participated in the shot put, where she came in ranked 17th.

Having fouled on her first two attempts, Kronk pulled off a monster throw in her final throw only to be called for another foul, disqualifying her from the event.

“It easily would have been her personal best,” said Clark. “From where we were, we couldn’t see a foul, but she knew exactly what she did as she just did step on the ring.”

Also competing in Tennessee was Abri Houser. It was the third trip to indoor national for the junior from Newton, Kansas. In the 2007 championships, Houser grabbed the final spot in the semi-finals of the 60-meter hurdles.

Coming in ranked 18th in a field of 31, Houser finished second in her preliminary heat with a time of 9.27.

Having ran the third heat – of six overall – Houser would have to wait to see if her time would qualify her for her second-straight semi-finals.

It looked promising for Houser until a fast final heat moved Houser into 13th – one spot out of the next round – by a mere two-hundredths of a second.

“Abri ran a good race,” said Clark. “She ran nice through the hurdles and actually got second in her heat, but she got squeezed out at the end.”

After the final team results were tallied, the Maple Leafs wrapped up a 16th place finish. It is the third straight year that Goshen finished in the top 20 in the nation.

“Having two All-Americans and a National Champion always feels real good,” added Clark. “Obviously Tina defending her title is nice, but Deanna and Abri both moved up from their qualifying rankings. They all stepped up and performed well.”

No Walk In the Park Tina Peters has come a long way to win championship after championship as a Maple Leaf

W

hile it is still well over four years away, don’t be surprised if you see Tina Peters on a London track for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Halfway through her sophomore year, the Goshen College standout already boasted three NAIA National Championships in three attempts – two indoor and one outdoor. At the most recent indoor championships, Peters blew away the field, winning by a minute and a half.

At the end of March, Tina competed in her first 20kilometer event – the distance for Olympic competition.

Finishing in 14th with a time of 1:52:21.7, Peters was mere minutes off qualifying for the United State Olympic Trials – for Beijing. The top competitors in the Salem, Oregon event included former Olympians and a Pan American Games medalist.

It all seems a little bit like a fairytale. An athlete in a relatively obscure sport, from a small Ohio town, competing at a NAIA school – not known for prolific Olympiclevel race walking – has big dreams of competing at the international level.

Rewind about 15 years ago and you will learn how a very young Tina and the Peters’ family first latched onto the sport they love. Vince, Tina’s father, was a track and field coach at Yellow Spring High School when he came across a young man who had some physical difficulties, but wanted to be a part of the track team. Vince turned to racewalking and turned the athlete into an All American, while building up his ailing body.

After Vince became the racewalking coach at nearby Cedarville University, Tina had her chance to catch onto the sport. Tagging along with her dad, Tina used the opportunity to develop in the sport, which most don’t realize is an Olympic event.

“It’s as difficult, if not more, than running,” Peters said, explaining the two basic rules, “One foot must be touching the ground at all times and the leg that is touch-

ing the ground must stay straight until it’s directly under the walker.”

Tina was part of the junior Olympic program from the time she was seven until she turned 18. Taking part in USA Track and Field clinics, traveling to meets, and constant coaching from her father – now chairman of the USATF’s National Race Walk committee – have become an everyday part of an Olympic hopeful.

So how does a highly competitive race walker end up at Goshen College, which had never fielded a competitor in the event before Peters? It starts with that fact that the NCAA does not field official events in the sport. Peters wanted an opportunity to compete collegiately, while pursuing a strong physics program.

In Peters’ junior year of high school, she was allowed entry into the 3K event– NAIA race distance – at Findlay University (Ohio). At the meet was Goshen College assistant coach Doug Yoder, who was immediately impressed.

As some would say, the rest is history. Peters added that, “Doug and Rick (Clark, Head Track and Field Coach at Goshen) were very enthusiastic about the idea.” Peters would go on to win the 2006 National High School championship before heading to Goshen.

It certainly did not take Peters long to make an impact on the NAIA national stage for herself and the Maple Leafs team. Her very first collegiate meet brought her right

back to Findlay. The freshman easily won the 3K race again and shattered the qualifying mark for NAIA Nationals by three minutes.

Just a week later, Peters took a break from typical collegiate competition to take part in the One Mile Race Walk National Indoor Championship at the Millrose Games. Tina placed fifth (7:18.54) on the big stage of Madison Square Garden. “Rick and Doug have been really supportive and flexible,” said Peters of her coaches willingness to allow her to travel and compete in non-collegiate events.

In some ways that willingness has paid off for the coaches and the Goshen College track and field program as a whole. At the 2007 NAIA Indoor National Championships, Peters teamed with Petrana Petkova to win a pair of national titles and propel the Maple Leafs to a then program-record eleventhplace finish.

Just two months later, Peters took her first outdoor title as she walked to another national championship in Fresno, California. This time, Peters and her teammates rallied for an eighth-place finish, which marked the first time Goshen had ever finished in the top ten in at any national event.

“My teammates are the best motivation for me,” said

Peters, who expected to compete at a national level as a freshman, but not necessarily win so early and often.

“It is impossible (to be successful) if you try and do it by yourself. Your teammates are there to cheer you on and help pick you up when you have a rough day.”

Those rough days have been few and far between for Peters on the track. Now a sophomore, Peters headed back to Findlay and added another title at the Findlay Indoor Classic to her trophy case. In doing so, she qualified for the NAIA Indoor National Championships.

In early March, Peters made it look easy as she defended her Indoor National Championship by nearly a minute and half for her third NAIA title. She became the first Goshen College athlete to hold three national titles, while helping the Maple Leafs to their third straight top-20 finish at the national event.

Peters’ collegiate career is far from over. Despite missing out on her fourth title at the outdoor championships in May, Peters she still has two more years to continue to shatter records.

After that, look to London. You might just see something that resembles a fairytale.

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Outdoor Track and Field

The Leafs made huge strides at the MCC Championships before taking eight to St. Louis for the NAIA Outdoor National Meet.

The Mid-Central Conference Championships on April 25-26 was a weekend to remember for Abri Houser and the Goshen College track and field team.

A combined – between school, track, and meet – ten records fell at the hands of the Maple Leafs while Houser, a junior hurdler, accounted for five as Goshen hosted the event.

Meanwhile, the depth of the Goshen teams were on full display as the women placed third overall – their highest finish in program history – with 92 points, while the men rallied for 59.5 points and fifth place.

After cruising through the prelims to earn the top seed in Saturday’s 100-meter hurdle finals, Houser set her eyes on history. The Newton, Kansas native blew past the field finishing in a time of 14.81 seconds – threequarters of a second in front of second place.

With the time, Houser broke her own Goshen College and MCC Championship time of 14.98 set a year ago. The time also shattered her Eigsti Track record of 15.44 seconds.

Houser was not done, as just an hour later,

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Goshen College Athletics

the junior found herself in a highly competitive 400-meter event. Behind coming around the final turn, Houser kicked it into high gear in the final 100 meters to pass and hold off Indiana Wesleyan’s Katelin Morgan for another MCC individual title.

Houser’s winning time of 1:04.43 broke her own Goshen College record and bested the 2000 track mark set by a Carthage College runner. The time also hit the automatic qualifying mark for NAIA Nationals in the event.

Houser has also qualified in the 100 meters for the May 22-24 nationals in St. Louis.

While Houser’s five new records all came on Saturday, the Maple Leafs made an early impression as the meet opened on Friday.

With headwinds of 20-30 miles per hour, it seemed like it would be a poor day for the throwing events. Senior Justin Hochstetler (Orrville, Ohio) proved otherwise. His throw of 153-feet, 6-inches set a new Goshen College record in the discus. With the mark, the senior qualified for his first NAIA National Championships.

Also on opening day, freshman sensation Peni Acayo took top honors in the high jump. The MCC and NAIA Region VIII Freshman of the Year in volleyball used her jumping ability to clear 5’2”. Learning new jumping styles has appeared to paid off quickly for the Kampala, Uganda native, who earlier in the outdoor season broke a ten-year old school record in the triple jump.

Meanwhile, junior Deanna Kronk battled the wind and qualified for NAIAs with a throw of 151’7” in the hammer throw. The NorthWood high school product narrowly missed All American honors in the event a year ago, but earned All American status in the weight throw during this year’s indoor season.

Saturday’s competition started with a race walking exhibition, which turned into quite a show for fans. Three-time NAIA National Champion Tina Peters easily won the race and qualified for a chance for her fourth title.

Things turned from good to better as Laura Stoesz (Jr., Indianapolis) turned in a fast final lap as the crowd cheered her on to a personal-best 18:11.00. Much to her surprise, Stoesz also hit the qualifying mark for NAIA nationals. It is the first time that Goshen has had two race walkers compete in a national event.

As if those records were not enough, senior Katie Sowers ended Saturday by smashing the school, track, and MCC Conference marks in the javelin with a throw of 129-feet, 2-inches. In the first meet of the season, Sowers

Maple Leafs claim ten new records at the 2008 Mid-Central Conference Championships broke a nearly twenty-year-old school mark in the event. All this came in Sowers first year competing in track and field since high school – after concentrating on basketball throughout college.

With individual event wins, Sowers, Houser, and Acayo – Peters’ win in the 3K race walk was not an official MCC event – the trio of women were named to the All Mid-Central Conference team.

Led by the trio, the Lady Leafs tallied 92 points to finish third – their highest ever. Freshman Cassie Greives was also a big contributor as she placed in each of her three throwing events (7th in hammer, 8th in shot put and discuss), while Goshen also received fourth-place efforts from both the 4x100 and 4x800 relay teams.

On the men’s side, the field and hurdle events are where the Leafs excelled. In addition to Hochstetler’s discus marks, Goshen scored in high jump, long jump,

pole vault, hammer throw, and javelin. Kyle Laker jumped 6’2” to take fourth in the high jump, while Luis Robledo was fourth in the pole vault after clearing 12’9”.

On the track it was all about the hurdles as Jon Miller (3rd, 56.54) and Tyler Keller (5th, 57.38) placed in the 400 meters, while Sam Boldman (6th, 16.61) and David Horst (8th, 17.55) grabbed points in the 110 meters.

The outdoor season ended as eight Goshen athletes qualified for NAIA Nationals May 22-24 in St. Louis: Junior Abri Houser (100 hurdles, 400 hurdles), Junior Deanna Kronk (hammer throw, shot put), Senior Katie Sowers (javelin), Sophomore Tina Peters (3K race walk), Junior Laura Stoesz (3K race walk), Senior Justin Hochstetler (discus), Junior Kyle Laker (high jump), and Senior Jake Gilette (marathon).

Peters was the lone Maple Leafs to turn in an All American performance as she finished third in the 3K racewalk in a time of 15:20.21. Kronk took 12th in the hammer throw (148’2”), while Sowers placed 15th with a mark of 117-feet, 11inches. For the men, Laker cleared 6’5” to take 22nd, while Hochstetler (142’9”) took 18th. www.GoLeafs.net

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The Leafs learned quickly that in baseball, little separates winning from losing In a sport where you can be successful just 30 percent of the time and be considered successful, the line between a win and a loss is extremely fine.

It didn’t take long for the Goshen College baseball team to figure that fact out firsthand.

A young Maple Leafs squad – just seven upperclassmen on the roster of 23 – started the season with a 5-14 mark. However, nine of those fourteen losses were by three runs or less, including five by just a single run.

Goshen was literally inches away from a handful of additional wins. Perhaps it was never truer as when the Leafs faced off against NCAA DII Eckerd College in Florida. Down 7-1 early in the game, Goshen battled back and rallied to get back into the game.

Already having scored five runs in the eighth inning, Tom McDowell doubled home what Goshen thought to be the tying run. However, the tying run turned into the final out of the inning as the base runner was called out for missing third base and Goshen eventually fell 9-8.

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Goshen College Athletics

The Leafs did not take long to respond from the adversity, though, as the very next day they split a double header with sister school Eastern Mennonite University. The two schools, along with Bluffton University, gathered together in Florida to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the tragic bus accident that took six lives from the Bluffton Baseball family.

Despite losing the first game of the three-game series in extra innings, Goshen responded with two straight to take the series and bragging rights. In the finale, the Maple Leafs hit grand slams in back-toback innings as they powered past the Royals 12-5.

After twelve games out of the state of Indiana – primarily against southern teams who had played up to 20 games at the time of the competition – the Leafs finally got their home opener on March 15th when they hosted Alma College. It turned out to be well worth the wait as senior Ian Swartz threw a completegame shutout as Goshen won the opener 5-0. The Maple Leafs would use a solid start by Aaron Coy to complete the sweep with a 9-2 win in the nightcap.

A week later, the season shifted towards conference play. With a new conference scheduling format and weather make-up rules, Goshen was forced to play ten games in five days on two occasions and the pitching staff was often worn thin by the constant changes in the schedule.

The depth and experience of the rest of the MCC showed as the Maple Leafs struggled to find consistency and their complete game.

One game, Goshen would get a solid pitching performance only to have its own bats go quiet. The

ABOVE: Sophomore Kraig Miller takes a swing. Miller was second on the team in batting average (.323), while leading the Maple Leafs with six home runs and 39 runs batted in.

RIGHT: Freshman Zach Reed was congratulated by teammates after hitting one of his four home runs. Reed batted .323 in conference play.

doubleheader sweep. Goshen also used a three-run home run

by Zach Reed to hold on for an 8-7 win over Calumet College of St. Joseph, which took its nonconference record to 10-12.

In their final MCC series of the season, the Maple Leafs finally cracked the conference win column. In the series opener against Grace, sophomore Aaron Coy gave up just one hit – an infield single in the sixth – in a complete game 4-0 shutout. Goshen swept the doubleheader as they outlasted the Lancers 22-11 in a slugfest, which featured 12 extrabase hits.

With an extra-innings vic-

next game it would be the opposite and with such a fine line between winning and losing – especially with the talent and depth of the MCC – you have to be on top of all aspects of your game.

The Maple Leafs took advantage of some non-conference opponents during some tough stretches of the season. Freshman Josh Yates and Sophomore Matt Fyfe combined for a no-hitter as Goshen swept away first-year program Great Lakes Christian and the Leafs outscored Indiana University Northwest 23-2 in a

BELOW: Senior Ian Swartz led the Leafs in batting (.344), third in RBIs (25), and set a new Goshen College singleseason record with 18 doubles.

tory at Grace, the Leafs claimed the seven seed heading into the conference tournament play-in series. Unfortunately, Goshen had to travel to Indiana Wesleyan where its season would end with a pair of losses.

Swartz and junior Brad Elam were selected as All Mid-Central Conference Honorable Mention.

Swartz led the Maple Leafs with a .344 average, while setting a new Goshen College singleseason record with 18 doubles.

Elam, a junior relief pitcher, notched a team-high three wins out of the bullpen, while pitching 37 innings and appearing in 27 ballgames.

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On The Air

Maple Leaf athlete’s Sheldon Good and Peter Koontz get a unique chance to share their faith and how it impacts their politics on a national stage with CNN What often gets misunderstood in the bustle of competition and the countless hours of training in intercollegiate athletics is the development of the entire student-athlete.

At a Christian liberal arts institution – with athletics as a vital contributor – Goshen College is committed to developing young people academically, socially, and spiritually.

Recently, a pair of Maple Leaf athletes got a rare chance to display their developments to a nation-wide audience. Part of a student panel of seven, Sheldon Good (Jr., Telford, Pa., tennis) and Peter Koontz (Sr.,

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Goshen College Athletics

Goshen, Ind., soccer) discussed how their faith impacts their political views with CNN anchor Rick Sanchez.

With an unprecedented focus on the political views of young people in America – coupled with the importance of Indiana in the primaries – CNN contacted Goshen about their interest in having a round-table discussion with first-time voters who were Mennonite. As part of a series titled, “The League of FirstTime Voters,” CNN had already aired similar conversations with students from a Jesuit institution and a historically black college.

The segment with Goshen College students will air on CNN’s American Morning as well as possible other shows and on CNN’s website.

“As a communication student, I’m often very critical of our national media, but the folks from CNN were very professional,” said Good, who is a junior on the Maple Leaf tennis team. “It was amazing to watch their reactions as we discussed our perspectives. Rick Sanchez told us afterwards that we not only represented our college and our denomination well, but all ‘youth across America,’ which was

humbling to say the least.” global thinking. Before coming to Goshen, I don’t Sanchez’s views were echoed by Goshen College think I had a specific way of articulating this idea of President Jim Brenneman and the local media that being global citizens. It was something that I assumed covered the story on campus.

I valued, but had never put it Good, Koontz, and their felinto words or actions.” low students discussed the Iraq While Goshen’s SST prowar, immigration, the economy, gram and focus on global leadership qualities, and other citizenship – one of Goshen hot-topic political issues. “It College’s core values – Good’s was cool to hear how the notion athletic career also has been a of thinking globally became our major contributor to his views backdrop for all these issues,” both politically and socially. said Good. “I think it’s an “Tennis has taught me how Peter Koontz (left)and Sheldon Good important perspective for much to function as individual who is of America to hear. To think part of a team,” said Good, who about how our decisions and policies can and do affect was a four-year high school tennis player and finished not only us here, but people around the world, that’s a his third season at Goshen in the fall. powerful image.”

“Tennis is an individual sport and life is an indiGood, who traveled to Cambodia as part of Gosvidual experience,” added Goode. “But as a member hen’s Study-Service Term, said that his time outside of a tennis team, you have to realize that every match of the country has “provided me with a way to frame counts towards a team score, no matter the fact that

“To think about how our decisions and policies can and do affect not only us here in America, but people around the world, that’s a powerful image.” -Sheldon Good “Teamwork is not just an idea to be practiced in athletics or in the classroom but something that must be lived out in our daily lives, as we consider how to be faithful, Christ-centered stewards in this game of life.” -Sheldon Good

you’re out there on the court alone.”

Most coaches preach teamwork from the first day of practice. However, few understand the importance of it immediately, learning through experience its value on and off the court.

“As global citizens, we must think about how our individual actions influence and impact not just ourselves,” Good explains.

“In this way, teamwork is not just an idea to be practiced in athletics or in the classroom, but something that must be lived out in our daily lives, as we consider how to be faithful, Christ-centered stewards in this game of life.”

While not every student-athlete will get such a unique opportunity to share their development, Goshen College and its athletic department strives for each of its student-athletes to understand athletics and development as synonymous.

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A Whole New F Goshen Has Hired Lee Mast To Lee Mast, the head softball coach at Goshen High challenge,” said Mast. “I love building programs up.

School for the past four seasons, has been selected as From meeting with players, the excitement is definitethe new head softball coach at Goshen College, Inly there to build on and get the program back up and terim Athletic Director Doug Yoder announced in late running in the right direction.”

May. In late February the college announced that the “Lee will bring stability and experience to the 2008 softball season would not take place due to a Goshen College softball program,” said Yoder. “He is lack of student-athletes. Administration has remained enthusiastic about what he does and that will spill over committed to the long-term success of the softball into the program.” program and its student-athletes and the hiring of Lee At Goshen High School, Mast took over a strugMast is the next step in the process of renewing the gling softball program, “I love building programs up. program to its past which which had not reached included a Mid-Central From meeting with players, twelve wins in well over Conference Championship the excitement is definitely a decade. Mast led the in 2001. there to build on and get the Redskins to a 12-15 record “With the returnees in 2008, including 5-9 in from a season ago, three program back up and running in the Northern Lakes Conferathletes already signed and the right direction.” ence. Their 12 wins – a more on the way, we will total the Redskins reached twice in Mast’s four-year have a revived program and Lee will help move things tenure – is one win short of the single-season school upward,” explained Yoder. record.

Mast will try to pick up a few more pieces late in “This opportunity (to coach at Goshen College) the recruiting season before making long-term plans was not something I was looking for, but it is a nice for the future of the program.

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Goshen College Athletics

Field of Dreams Start The Rebuilding Process He has already put together his coaching staff, which will include former Maple Leaf players Rachel Solmos and Faith Borrell. Solmos, a All MCC and All NAIA Region VIII selection in 2003 – a season where she won 15 games, struck out 109, and posted a 2.03 earned run average – is the Goshen College career record holder in nearly every pitching category. Borell, primarily an outfielder, was part of Maple Leaf teams from 2005-2007.

“My goal is to have consistency with 18 players every season,” said Mast. “There is a lot of local talent within a 50-100 mile radius that gets looked over. They have the ability to play at this level while getting an outstanding education.”

Before his four-year stint at the helm of the Redskin softball program, Mast held various other

coaching positions at the local high school, including junior varsity softball, junior varsity baseball, and freshman basketball. He has also coached basketball and softball, been a youth sponsor and director, and the district athletic director for Brenneman Missionary Church in Goshen.

As of late May, the program had already signed outfielder Danae Nafziger of Nappannee, Anne Lehman of Berne, Ind., and all-state performer Stormy Holder of Anderson, who will also play basketball.

Despite not having the numbers

in 2008, the Maple Leafs did have some talent, including All MidCentral Conference Tournament Team (2007) shortstop Amy Clem.

Clem, who will be a senior in 2009, hopes to be a major part of the rebuilding process.

“What happened was unfortunate, but it is done and cannot be changed,” said Clem. “The only thing left to do is think about the future and rebuild the program.” Clem added, “I look forward to my last year of collegiate softball and look forward to the things to come.”

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2008 Seniors Sun Sets on 38 Collegiate Careers While the coming of the spring

means warmer weather, it also brings the inevitability of saying farewell to

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another crop of seniors. The hardest, yet most rewarding part of working in a collegiate athletic department is seeing student-athletes develop and

then move on to the next phase of their lives.

The 2007-08 school year marks the final stages of 38 collegiate careers.

While the Goshen College Athletic Department says good- 15 All Mid-Central Conference honors, a pair of NAIA bye to 38 seniors, they also recognize the accomplishments All Region VIII selections and two NAIA All American of this extraodinary group on honors. the playing field, court, and/ Tony Janzen will go out 23 Academic All Americans or track. ranked 6th all-time in scor15 All Mid-Central The senior Class of 2008 ing for men’s soccer, while has certainly got things Brice Hartman places eighth Conference Recipients down on and off the playon the men’s basketball ing surface, racking up 23 scoring charts and in the Daktronics-NAIA All American Scholar-Athlete awards, Top10 in several other offensive categories.

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“Community is what Goshen is all about and it is why I love what I do on a daily basis.“ Krysten Parson never thought she would stay in Goshen after she finished her storied softball career.

But, it is six years later and she finds herself just a mile down the road teaching and coaching at Bethany Christian High School.

A catcher for the Maple Leafs softbal team from 1999-2002, Parson was named All Mid-Central Conference and All NAIA Region VIII in her final three seasons. She has several school records and is in the top 10 in nearly every Goshen College career offensive category.

“What initially drew me to Goshen was the community,” said Parson, who was part of the 2001 squad that won the conference tournament. The team was picked

to finish 5th in the MCC, but rattled off a Goshen record 24 wins during their historic run.

Through softball – and basketball – Parson learned the importance of sticking together as a team. “Sports will end one day for everyone, then what do you have,” said Parson.

What Parson has now – while it isn’t what she expected – is the opportunity to work with girls in a community. “The most rewarding aspect of coaching is the mentoring relationships.”

Parson didn’t plan on still being just a mile down the road, but has learned, “Community is what Goshen is all about and it is why I love what I do on a daily basis,” concluded Parson.

2002 Grad Krysten Parson

“Being part of a team helps you navigate the relationship and keeps you on the same page.”

1986 Grad Sally Hunsberger

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Sally Hunsberger still remembers each point of her 1985 MCC Championship doubles match as a senior on the Maple Leaf tennis team.

Maybe she even remembered that when she and the group from Christian Peacemaker Teams she was with were attacked by masked men with guns on the West Bank.

More importantly, she remembers some of the lessons she learned from being part of a team. “Clearly there will be conflict when you are so close to each other,” said Hunsberger. “Being part of a team teaches you how to navigate the relationship and keeps you on the same page.”

Hunsberger, who still ranks in the top five in career wins at Goshen College, also points to athletics and

the ability to stick with it. “You have to believe it is going to get better.” Hunsberger who loved practices because it is an opportunity to improve, relates it to her volunteer work with CPT. “You can’t always see the improvement in conditions, but you know you are doing the right thing.”

Having gone on trips with CPT for four years running, Hunsberger will return to Palestine in November. CPT’s mission is to “stand with groups who are oppressed” and “putting their lives on the line as Jesus did,” Hunsberger sees it as a “concrete outlet for her beliefs.”

Still an avid athlete herself, Hunsberger is using lessons from tennis to impact the world.

Q&A

With the newest member of the Maple Leaf Athletics staff.

On May 2nd, Tim Demant, an athletic administrator, coach, and physical education instructor from Abbotsford, British Columbia was named as the athletic director for Goshen College athletics.

“Tim brings a dedication to the advancement and development of our students and the athletic department that will take our program to the next level,” said Interim Athletic Director Doug Yoder. “He has an understanding of our core values and how they are implemented in all that we do. He is committed and expects excellence in all our athletic programs.”

“I am very excited about this great opportunity to be a part of the athletic department at Goshen, while continuing to use and develop my skills as a leader,” said Demant. “I was very pleased with the coaches and staff in the interview process and am excited to begin working on building on their past successes.”

“Goshen has had success, but there is room to grow,” said Demant. “In my 10 years at Columbia, we built an athletic departments and I am proud of what we accomplished. Now, I am excited to bring that experience to Goshen.”

Q: What’s your reaction to being offered the position of athletic director of Goshen College athletics?

A: I am very excited. It is a great opportunity to be a part of a growing department and continue to grow in my leadership skills.

Q: What is it about Goshen and Maple Leaf athletics that impressed you?

A: I was impressed with the coaches and the staff and their passion to succeed. I think there is a lot of room for growth and they are ready to build on the successes they have already had.

Q: What are your initial goals as athletic director?

A: The first thing I need to do is get an understanding of the history and culture of the school and the athletic department. I really want to get connected with the student-athletes and find out what motivates them. Then, I want to see how we can get involved and get our athletes involved in the community and in turn get the community involved in what we are doing here.

Q: What about Goshen College’s core values resonates with you? How does that play into your philosophy of athletics?

A: Goshen College is able to combine academic, athletic, and spiritual components. Those are all things that I value and are instrumental in who I am. The concept of integrating academics and athletics and using athletics as a tool to help in the classroom is something I strongly believe in. The value of servant leadership also is part of who I am. I want to be out in the community and see our athletes giving their time back to the community.

Q: Outside of talking about your experiences, what should people know about you as a person and as a leader?

A: I obviously have a passion for athletics. I am quite easy-going, laid back, and trusting. I am a team player and would rather not take the credit.

Tim Demant

Athletic Director Education: Bachelor’s degree, doublemajor in physical education and history, Trinity Western University (Langley, British Columbia); master’s degree, bioenergetics, University of British Columbia (Vancouver) Occupation: Director of Athletics and Recreation at Columbia Bible College (Abbotsford, British Columbia) Previous positions: Head Men’s Volleyball Coach, Columbia Bible College; sessional instructor, Columbia Bible College; faculty, instructor in physical education department, Trinity Western University; men’s volleyball coach, Trinity Western University.

Leadership positions: President, British Columbia Colleges’ Athletics Association (BCCAA); team member, Athlete Assistance Program Task Team; administrator and coach, Fraser Valley Volleyball Club; Technical Vice President, BCCAA. Accomplishments: BCCAA Coach of the Year, 2002-03 and 2003-04 in men’s volleyball; Two-time Academic All Canadian (1994 and 1995); Two-time Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All Canadian (1993 and 1995); Four-time BCCAA All-Conference Team (1991-1995); NCCP Level III Certification in volleyball; NCCP Level I Technical certification in basketball.

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MAPLE LEAF ATHLETICS 2007-08 21 All Mid-Central Conference Members

6 NAIA All Americans

24 NAIA Academic All Americans

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