MEN’S SOCCER LEADERSHIP: Head Coach Tyler Sheikh, Assistant Coach Brian O’Connor RECORD: 13-3-3 (overall), 7-2-1 (conference) ROSTER: 29 players The Prairie Fire returned to the Midwest Conference Championship finals for a second year, falling 2-1 to Lake Forest College. Since 2014, the team has a record of 28-7-3 overall.
66
Goals scored during the season, the most in Knox history and third-most in conference history
4
Players named to All-Midwest Conference squad
3
Years in a row at the Midwest Conference Tournament
WOMEN’S SOCCER LEADERSHIP: Head Coach Paul Lawrence, Assistant Coach Ian Brophy RECORD: 13-5-2 (overall), 4-3-1 (conference) ROSTER: 33 players The Prairie Fire came within a single overtime goal of winning the Midwest Conference championship in their first appearance in a conference final. With 26 returning players this season, they are a favorite for the 2016 season.
13
10
First-year starters
13th
Among D3 teams in goals scored, nationwide
1st
Appearance in a Midwest Conference Tournament final
The team’s most wins in history
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LEADERSHIP: Head Coach Emily Cline, Assistant Coaches Matt Petersen and Oliver Wiseman RECORD: 12-11 (overall), 7-11 (conference) ROSTER: 12 players The Prairie Fire played to their best record in two decades, and with nine players returning in 2017 and a sizable recruiting class, look for more victories next year.
Victories, the most since 1996
Incoming players
Score against Monmouth College (double OT)
MEN’S BASKETBALL LEADERSHIP: Coach Kevin Walden; Assistant Coaches Dan Jackson and Barry Swanson RECORD: 2-21 (overall), 1-17 (conference) ROSTER: 17 players The record may not show it, but this is a team with plenty of heart. Twenty games separated the team’s first victory of the season and its second—a commanding win against Grinnell and their fast-paced “system”—yet the Prairie Fire played hard night after night.
WOMEN’S GOLF LEADERSHIP: Head Coach K.C. Harding ROSTER: 2 players Women’s golf returns to Knox in fall 2016, with two new recruits joining the Prairie Fire.
Midwest Conference ranking of Duncan Wheeler ’19
3
1
Years since Knox last fielded a women’s golf squad
2
Full-time coach, the first for Knox Golf
New recruits
MEN’S GOLF Points scored against Grinnell (2/17/16)
8
New recruits
Money raised by team to fund Costa Rica trip for all players
LEADERSHIP: Head Coach K.C. Harding TOURNAMENTS: 8 ROSTER: 5 players Duncan Wheeler ’19 distinguished himself at the Midwest Conference Championship, shooting 236 over the three-day tournament for the third-best individual score in the conference.
2017
Expected opening date of indoor training facility, funded in part by the K Club
CROSS COUNTRY LEADERSHIP: Head Coach Alex Moreno MEETS: 21 ROSTER: 17 men, 16 women Rebecca Katz ’18 not only set a new record for the 6000 meters last year, she holds Knox’s top six performances at that distance.
23:25
FOOTBALL LEADERSHIP: Head Coach Damon Tomeo; Associate Head Coach Andy Gibbons; Offensive Coordinator Cory Bonstead; Assistant Coach Dave McKillip (defensive line), Assistant Coach Bill Allison (running backs), Assistant Coach Wes Graham (quarterbacks), Assistant Coach Matt Reed (wide receivers), Assistant Coach Britt Myers (linebackers), Assistant Coach Scott Cramer (character) RESULTS: 3-7 (overall), 1-5 (conference) ROSTER: 48 students Knox boasted two standout performers in 2015: Armand Stricklin ’16 was recruited to Teams Stars & Stripes and played in the Stars & Stripes All-Star Game over winter break, while Ilir Emini ’16 played in the D3 Senior Classic. Both students also participated in the NFL Regional Combine.
33
3
Wins, the most since 2008
17
Returning starters
Yards gained against Lawrence University aer “the greatest catch in Division III football history” by Ilir Emini ’16
Knox record for women’s 6000 meters, set by Rebecca Katz ’18
33
Prairie Fire runners, the largest team in recent history
TRACK & FIELD LEADERSHIP: Head Coach Randy Overby, Assistant Coach Alex Moreno (long distance), Assistant Coach Devin Compton (throws) MEETS: 7 indoor, 7 outdoor ROSTER: 27 men, 23 women The Prairie Fire set two new school records at the Midwest Conference Championships, including a 157-foot, four-inch hammer throw by Brennan McGlauchlen ’16 and a 12.46-second 100-meter dash by first-year Val Varanese.
SWIMMING & DIVING LEADERSHIP: Head Coach Jonathan Powers MEETS: 9 ROSTER: 8 men, 23 women Both the men’s and women’s teams were named to the Scholar All-America Team by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America for their high team grade point averages.
3.42
Average GPA for men’s squad
Days between two record-setting hammer throws by Brennan McGlauchlen ’16
00..59.51 School record for 100-yard butterfly, set by Madeline Bruce ’17 (2/19/16)
3.47
26
Average GPA for women’s squad
21
30
New Top 10 results
13
Returning record holders
New school records set in 2015-16
WOMEN’S TENNIS
MEN’S TENNIS LEADERSHIP: Head Coach Lawrence Eyre RESULTS: 2-20 (overall), 2-7 (conference) ROSTER: 6 players Rohail Khan ’17, Errol Kaylor ’18, and the doubles team of Minh Le ’19 and Errol Kaylor each advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Midwest Conference Championship.
4
New players starting in Fall 2016
PMS 268
Exact shade of purple of the new tennis courts
Winner of Midwest Conference Award for Sportsmanship
LEADERSHIP: Head Coach Lawrence Eyre, Assistant Coach Laurie Eyre RESULTS: 3-15 (overall), 2-8 (conference) ROSTER: 13 players The Prairie Fire finished eighth in the Midwest Conference, with first-round wins in singles and doubles during the conference tournament.
4
New players starting in Fall 2016
3
Spots improved in MWC Tournament
SOFTBALL LEADERSHIP: Head Coach Erin Rutledge, Assistant Coach Troy Smith RECORD: 1-33 (overall), 1-19 (conference) ROSTER: 11 players If you’re only going to win one game, win it in style: Alannah Sanchez ’18 hit a walk-off double and also earned a win as the game’s pitcher.
BASEBALL LEADERSHIP: Coach Jami Isaacson, Assistant Coaches James Clark and Dalton Davis RESULTS: 12-22 (overall), 5-11 (conference) ROSTER: 33 players Overcoming after a slow start, the Prairie Fire won eight of their final 11 games, bolstered by the exceptional offense of Drake Sykes ’17, who was named to the ABCA/Rawlings and d3baseball.com All-American teams.
30
Years since a Knox baseball player was last named an All-American (Congratulations, Drake Sykes ’17!)
.487
Raised by K Club for a new, state-of-the-art fence
7
New recruits (the largest recruiting class in a decade!)
2
Triples hit in a single game, against Ripon College (5/1/16)
Drake Sykes’ batting average, leading all D3 players
10
New recruits on deck for 2017
K CLUB RESULTS: $126,580 raised (a record!) ROSTER: 316 donors (also a record!) KUDOS TO: Dave ’69 and Julie Stolarski Ladner ’70, donors behind the 25 for 25K Challenge There can be no Fire without the spark you provide. You are truly our MVPs, and you had a championship year in 2015-16. Here are just a few of the things we were able to accomplish because of your support:
Refurbished floor in Memorial Gym
Architectural planning for a new soccer field
New mascot for the Prairie Fire
Tournament travel for men’s and women’s soccer
Resources for teams with increased rosters (women’s soccer, golf, tennis, women’s basketball)