THis is GArdner-WEbb
Gardner-Webb at a Glance • • • • • •
Located in Boiling Springs, N.C. Thirteen departments offering 45 major fields of study Approximately 4,000 students from 33 states and 34 foreign countries 15:1 student-faculty ratio Founded in 1905 as Boiling Springs H.S. and became Boiling Springs Junior College in 1928. It was renamed Gardner-Webb College in 1942 in honor of Governor O. Max Gardner and his wife, Fay Webb Gardner. It became a university in 1993. Honored by the U.S. News and World Report magazine as one of America’s best colleges.
2009 GARDNER-WEBB CROSS COUNTRY Founded: ................................................. 1905 Enrollment: ............................................ 4,000 Nickname: ......................................... Bulldogs School Colors: .......................... Red & Black Home Course: .......... River Bend Golf Course Affiliation: ...........................NCAA Division I Conference: .................................... Big South President: ...................... Dr. A. Frank Bonner V.P. of Athletics: .........................Chuck Burch Associate A.D./SWA: ............... Pam Scruggs
This is Gardner-Webb ............ Inside Front Cover 2009 Quick Facts/Credits ................................ 1 Head Coach Brian Baker .................................. 2 2009 Schedule ................................................. 3 2009 Women’s Team/Roster............................. 4 2009 Women’s Profiles ..................................... 5 2008 Women’s Season Review .......................... 9 2009 Men’s Team/Roster ............................... 10 2009 Men’s Profiles ....................................... 11 2008 Men’s Season Review............................. 15 GWU Administration ....................................... 16 President - Dr. A. Frank Bonner .................. 16 V.P. for Athletics - Chuck Burch ................... 16 Majors Offered at GWU .......... Inside Back Cover
COACHING STAFF Head Coach:..................................Brian Baker Alma Mater: ............................ Arkansas (‘94) Years at GWU: ................................... 7th year Office Number: ...................... (704) 406-3893 SID Mailing Address: ........ 110 S. Main Street ............................. Boiling Springs, NC 28017
MEDIA RELATIONS Director: .......................................... Marc Rabb Email: ..................... mrabb@gardner-webb.edu Office Phone: .......................... (704) 406-4355 Assistant Director/Contact: ......... Kevin Davis Email: ....................kldavis@gardner-webb.edu Office Phone: ......................... (704) 406-3981 Cell Phone: ............................. (704) 974-9095 SID Fax: .................................. (704) 406-4739 Athletic Dep. Phone: .............. (704) 406-4340 Webite: ............................ www.gwusports.com
2009 QUICK FACTS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Editor: ................................................................... Kevin Davis Editorial Assistance: ................ Ryan Bridges, Josh Drewery Layout and Design: .............................................. Kevin Davis Cover Artwork: ................................................... Kevin Davis Cover Concept:...................................................... Kevin Davis Photography: ............................... Bob Carey, Brent C. Hager, ....................Atlantic Sun Conference, Big South Conference, ......................................GWU Photo Team, GWU File Photos, ........................................................ Kevin Davis, Ryan Bridges Special thanks to head coach Brian Baker and the GWU cross country teams for their assistance in producing this media guide.
TEAM INFORMATION WOMEN’S TEAM
MEN’S TEAM 2008 Big South Championship Finish: 8th
2008 Big South Championship Finish: 7th
2008 Top-Five Team Finishes: Four
2008 Top-10 Team Finishes: Four
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 5/4
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/6
Newcomers: 3
Newcomers: 4
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HEAD COACH
BRIAN BAKER HEAD COACH SEVENTH SEASON 2006 Atlantic Sun Men’s Coach of the Year Brian Baker is entering in his seventh full season as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Gardner-Webb University and is in his seventh season with the Gardner-Webb University Track and Field programs. In its first year in the Big South Conference, the cross country and track and field programs all faired well in 2008-09, as the women’s cross country team finished 32nd overall at the NCAA Southeast Regional meet, the indoor track and field teams set two new GWU records en route to fifth-place finishes in both men’s and women’s standings at the conference championship meet, while the Bulldogs outdoor track and field teams sent four student-athletes – Kelly Brides, Paul Steinke, Adam Reed and Christoph Hutschalik - to the NCAA East Regionals, setting five new school records along the way. In 2008-09, the Bulldogs had nine all-conference performers in indoor track and field, highlighted by senior Jake Didion being named the men’s Most Outstanding Field Performer for the Conference meet, and nine all-conference performers in outdoor track and field. The Bulldogs also received honors for their work in the classroom in 2008-09, as Victoria Argus was named to the All-Conference Academic Team for indoor track and field, while Paul Steinke and Kelly Bridges were both named to the All-Conference Academic Team for the outdoor track and field season. The 2008 GWU women’s cross country team was honored as a 2008 NCAA Division I All-Academic Team by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, one of 160 NCAA Division I schools to receive the honor. Not to be outdone, the 2008-09 women’s indoor track and field team was honored by receiving the Big South Conference Team Sportsmanship Award for the winter season, sharing the award with High Point. During the 2007-08 season, the Bulldog’s last in the Atlantic Sun Conference, Baker’s group of talented athletes posted 17 school records. Individually, nine conference titles were won during the year. Four of the student-athletes - Caryn Daane, Jerel Langley, Carrie Long and Elizabeth Maxwell had performances that were good enough to allow them to compete at the NCAA East Region. During the 2006-07 campaign, his team recorded 25 school-record marks. Four student-athletes - Jake Didion, Elliott Haynie, Langley and Maxwell - garnered a spot at the NCAA East Region Championships with Didion and Langley earning top-10 finishes. The Bulldogs had multiple individual champions at the conference meet during the indoor and outdoor campaigns. Cody MacArthur and Maxwell were each named the Most Outstanding Field Events Performer under Baker’s guidance. Baker led a banner year for the Bulldogs in 2005-2006. GWU finished third at the 2006 A-Sun Indoor Track & Field Championships on the men’s and women’s side, setting the bar high for the outdoor championships in Clermont, Fla. Baker’s men blitzed the field en route
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to the school’s first-ever Atlantic Sun Conference team title, running away from the field as MacArthur was named Most Outstanding Field Events Performer and Dobson Collins earned Most Valuable Freshman honors. The GWU women also finished strong outdoors as the program tied its highest finish ever by taking second. In the 2005-06 academic year, both the men and women proved to be strong competition throughout the season, with four men and two women garnering A-Sun Athlete of the Week honors. With the track & field programs each looking strong, and both cross country programs showing steady improvement, Baker has his operation headed in the right direction on all fronts. Prior to his current role, Baker served the Bulldogs as head cross country coach and assistant track coach, but accepted his new role following the conclusion of the 2003 outdoor season. An expert in the distance events, Baker provides Gardner-Webb Track & Field with a high level of national experience and knowledge – as well as respect – from his many years of involvement at collegiate track’s highest level of competition. During his time in Boiling Springs, the GWU distance corps has improved by leaps and bounds – with each member of the team posting new personal records on a regular basis. A product of the nation’s most storied Division I track program at the University of Arkansas, Baker is no stranger to success on the track or the cross country course. Baker, who ran professionally with New Balance until recently, is also quite experienced on the international level as well. A 1994 graduate of Arkansas with a degree in kinesiology, Baker was a key cog in the Razorbacks’ domination of NCAA Division I cross country and track in the early 90’s. He ran on Arkansas teams that won national titles in 1990 (Indoor and Cross Country), 1991 (Indoor), 1992 (Cross Country), 1993 (Indoor, Outdoor, and Cross Country), 1994 (Indoor and Outdoor). Twice (1992-93 and 1993-94) the Razorbacks won the NCAA Division I triple crown, with national championships in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. In addition to team success, Baker won individual national titles in the Indoor Distance Medley Relay and the Outdoor 5,000-meter run as a senior (1994). Baker was a two-time individual conference cross country champion and 5,000-meter run champion as well, winning one title each in the SWC and the SEC. Arkansas captured 12 total conference championships as a team during Baker’s career, including three SWC titles and nine SEC titles. He was an alternate for the 1996 Olympic Team in the 5,000meter run and finished ninth in the 3,000-meter run at the 1999 World Indoor Track & Field Championships held in Japan. In 1995, he placed 10th in the 5,000-meter run at the World University Games. Baker is also a former member of the U.S. World Cross Country Team (1996 and 1997) and finished third, receiving a bronze medal at the Pan American Games. In 2001, Baker competed in the Chiba Ekiden relays in Japan. The Batesville (Ark.) High graduate was a three-time prep state champion in cross country and two-time outdoor state champion in the 1,600m run and 3,200m run. In June of 2004, Baker was inducted into the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame. Baker and his wife Laura reside in Kings Mountain, N.C., and are the proud parents of Quinn Addison Baker (6) and Ian York Baker (3), who was born in August 2006. Laura Baker was inducted into the Cornell University Hall of Fame recently as well.
CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE Tournament
Host School/Location
September 1
Wofford Relays
September 4
Western Carolina Invitational
September 19
Big South Conference Preview
October 2
Charlotte Cross Country Invitational
October 16
Blue Ridge Open
October 31
2009 Big South Conference Championships
November 14
NCAA Regionals
November 23
NCAA Championships
Wofford/Spartanburg, S.C. Western Carolina/Cullowhee, N.C. High Point/High Pont, N.C. Charlotte/Charlotte, N.C.
2009 SCHEDULE
Date
Appalachian State/Boone, N.C. High Ponit/High Point, N.C. Louisville, Ky. Indiana State/Terre Haute, Ind.
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2009 WOMEN’S TEAM
WOMEN’S ROSTER Name Abby Callahan Elizabeth Glunk Lia Hudak Ivana Hughes Carrie Long Diana Palka Cherish Richardson Elisabeth Sawyer Holly Scott Laura Scott Leah Steinke Ariel Zimmerman
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Ht. 5-7 5-9 5-1 5-5 5-10 5-11 5-4 5-8 5-3 5-3 5-3 5-8
Class Sr. So. Jr. Fr. So. Jr. So. So. So. Jr. Fr. Fr.
Hometown/Previous School Pickering, Ontario, Canada/Catholique Algonquin H.S. Carrollton, Va./Smithfield H.S. Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg H.S. Evans, Ga./Evans H.S. Franklin, N.C./Franklin H.S. Huntington Station, N.Y./Walt Whitman H.S. Augusta, Ga./Greenbrier H.S. Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg H.S. Mt. Holly, N.C./Highland School of Technology Mitchell, Ontario, Canada/Mitchell District H.S. Green Cove Springs, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette H.S.
LIA HUDAK
SENIOR 5-7 Pickering, Ontario, Canada
JUNIOR 5-1 Charlote, N.C.
Catholique Algonquin H.S.
East Mecklenburg H.S.
2008 Cross Country: Earned a top-five finish with a time of 12:33.00 at the WCU Open ... Posted a 15th-place finish at the Wolfpack Invitational with a time of 19:49 ... Finished 13th at the Catamount Classic after crossing the line in 19:44.97 ... Was 40th at the New Balance Big South Conference Championships in a time of 21:32.39. 2007 Cross Country: Placed fifth at the Western Carolina Invitational after crossing in 12:29 ... Was 13th at the Big South Preview in a time of 19:54.4 ... Took 16th overall with a time of 19:24 at the Pirate Invitational ... Finished third at the GWU Duels in 16:08 ... Was 44th overall at the Blue Ridge Open after finishing in 19:29 ... Placed 16th at the A-Sun Championships with a time of 19:34.
2008 Cross Country: Placed 31st at the WCU Open with a time of 14:19.19 ... Finished 52nd with a time of 22:56 at the Wolfpack Invitational ... Ran 22:52 at the Blue Ridge Open.
RUNNIN’ BULLDOGS
ABBY CALLAHAN
2007 Cross Country: Was 28th at the GWU Duels ... Took 189th with a time of 29:18 at the Blue Ridge Open. Before Gardner-Webb: Ran for East Mecklenburg H.S. all four years ... Two-time team captain ... Recorded a time of 6:03 for the 1,600m her junior season ... Posted a time of 2:40 in the 800m her junior year ... Crossed the line for a 5k in a personal-best time of 22:00 her senior season.
2006 Cross Country: Ran a 19:51 5k at the Clemson Invitational to take 11th .. Posted a time of 15:38 on the 4k course at the WCU Open ... Finished seventh with a personal best of 19:34 for 5k at the McAlister Invitational ... Finished 11th at the GWU Duals for 4k ... Was 43rd at the A-Sun Championships. Before Gardner-Webb: A district champion in the 3,000m ... Was also first in the 800m in the NDA her senior season ... Placed first in the NDA in cross country ... Placed second in the 3,000m at NOSSA her junior year ... Attended OFSAA in both cross country and track and field.
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RUNNIN’ BULLDOGS
DIANA PALKA
LAURA SCOTT
JUNIOR 5-11 Huntington Station, N.Y.
JUNIOR 5-3 Mitchell, Ontario, Canada
Walt Whitman H.S.
Mitchell District H.S.
2008 Cross Country: Finished 17th after crossing the line in 13:24.07 at the WCU Open ... Placed 26th at the Wolfpack Invitational with a time of 20:42 ... Recorded a 17th-place finish at the Catamount Classic, crossing the finish line in 20:25.47 ... Posted an 18th-place effort at the Pirate XC Invitational in a time of 20:39 ... Ran 20:37 at the Blue Ridge Open ... Finished 45th at the New Balance Big South Conference Championships, crossing in 22:05.67.
2008 Cross Country: Finished 11th at the WCU Open with a time of 13:05.36 ... Was 27th at the Wolfpack Invitational, finishing in 20:44 ... Took 20th at the Catamount Classic, finishing in a personal-best time of 20:50.18 ... Ran 20:34 at the Blue Ridge Open ... Finished 38th at the New Balance Big South Conference Championships, crossing in 21:06.41 ... Finished 199th at the NCAA East Regional with a time of 24:54.6.
2007 Cross Country: Took 17th in her first collegiate race with a time of 13:54 at the Western Carolina Invitational ... Finished 26th at the Big South Preview after crossing the line in 21:46.6 ... Placed 36th at the Pirate Invitational with a time of 22:14 ... Was 14th at the GWU Duels ... Took 131st at the at the Blue Ridge Open with a time of 21:14 ... Finished 61st at the A-Sun Championships with a time of 21:25. Before Gardner-Webb: A three-time all-league selection in cross country at Walt Whitman H.S. ... Two-time all-division honors ... Earned all-league accolades in the 3,000m ... Two-year captain of the cross country team ... Captained the track team her senior season ... Three-time all-league selection in basketball ... Member of the National Honor Society.
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2007 Cross Country: Crossed the line in 13:25 to take 12th at the Western Carolina Invitational, which was her first collegiate race ... Took 20th at the Big South Preview in a time of 20:55.6 ... Finished 25th overall with a time of 20:32 at the Pirate Invitational ... Was seventh at the GWU Duels ... Placed 97th with a time of 20:34 at the Blue Ridge Open. Before Gardner-Webb: Ran track at Mitchell District H.S. ... Named Athlete of the Year as a freshman ... Twotime winner of the conference athlete award ... Named the Grade 12 Graduating Athlete of the Year her senior season ... Had a top time in the 1,500m of 5:06.
CHERISH RICHARDSON
SOPHOMORE 5-9 Carrollton, Va.
SOPHOMORE 5-4 Augusta, Ga.
Smithfield H.S.
Greenbrier H.S.
2008 Cross Country: Posted a time of 13:38.26 at the WCU Open, crossing the line in 21st place ... Recorded a personal-best time of 21:49.39 to place 34th at the Catamount Classic ... Notched 20th place at the Pirate XC Invitational after crossing in 21:20 ... Ran 22:14 at the Blue Ridge Open ... Had a time of 23:22.50 at the New Balance Big South Conference Championships. Before Gardner-Webb: A three-year letterwinner in cross country at Smithfield H.S. ... Two-year varsity track student-athlete ... Won the Coach’s Award her junior season.
2008 Cross Country: Finished 32nd at the WCU Open after crossing the line in 14:19.89 ... Placed 54th at the Wolfpack Invitational with a time of 23:04 ... Recorded a personal-best time of 22:20.25, finishing 37th, at the Catamount Classic. Before Gardner-Webb: A two-year standout on the track and field team ... Finished seventh at the state meet in the 800m her senior season ... Region champion her senior campaign in the 800m ... School record holder in the 800m, 4x400m and 4x800m ... Part of the four-time cross country region championship team ... Part of the two-time track and field region championship team.
CARRIE LONG
ELISABETH SAWYER
SOPHOMORE 5-10 Franklin, N.C.
SOPHOMORE 5-8 Charlotte, N.C.
Franklin H.S.
East Mecklenburg H.S.
Before Gardner-Webb: Three-sport standout at Franklin H.S. ... Competed on the track team, swim team and volleyball team ... Recorded the second-best pole vault mark (12’1”) all time in the state ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Valedictorian.
RUNNIN’ BULLDOGS
ELIZABETH GLUNK
Before Gardner-Webb: Two-time team captain at East Mecklenburg H.S. ... Two-time regional qualifier in the 300m hurdles ... Part of the two-time 4x800m regional qualifying team ... Part of the 4x400m regional qualifying squad ... Team MVP her senior season.
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RUNNIN’ BULLDOGS
HOLLY SCOTT
LEAH STEINKE
SOPHOMORE 5-3 Mt. Holly, N.C.
FRESHMAN 5-3 Green Cove Springs, Fla.
Highland School of Technology
Trinity Christian Academy
Before Gardner-Webb: A four-year letterwinner in cross country and track at Highland Tech. ... Four-time cross country MVP ... Three-time all-county selection ... Picked up all-conference honors three times ... Track MVP her senior season ... Named Athlete of the Year as a senior ... Competed in the Junior Olympics.
IVANA HUGHES
ARIEL ZIMMERMAN
FRESHMAN 5-5 Evans, Ga.
FRESHMAN 5-8 Williamsburg, Va.
Evans H.S.
Lafayette H.S.
Before Gardner-Webb: Was a four-year letterwinner at Evans High School ... Was the 400 county and region champion as a senior ... Was the county champion in the 400 as a junior and a sophomore ... Took second place in 400 at the county championships as a freshman ... Was the 800 region champion as a senior ... Finished in third-place in the 800 at the state championships as a senior and junior ... Finished second in the 800 at the regionals her junior season and third in the 800 at the county championships as a sophomore ... Helped her cross country team finish first at the county meet and second at the regionals ... Was named the Rookie of the Year ... Set a personal best time of .57 in the 400 meter run as a senior ... Has a personal best time of 2:19 in the 800 meter run.
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Before Gardner-Webb: Was a six-time state qualifier in the 800 meters for Trinity Christian Academy ... Won districts in the 800 and in the mile as a freshman ... Also won the districts in the mile and 800 as a sophomore ... Finished second in the state at the 800 meter run as a junior with a personal best time of 2:18 ... Was on the varsity soccer team in both her senior and junior years ... Was a competitive gymnast from the age of 10 to 17.
Before Gardner-Webb: Was a two-sport standout student-athlete at Lafayette High School ... Qualified for the state championships in high jump, pole vault and the 4x800 meter relay team as a senior ... Was named AllDistrict in cross country (20:48) as a senior ... Was named All-District in the high jump (4’10”) and in the pole vault (8’6”) her senior year ... Was named to the All-District team in the 1 mile (5:25), the 800 meter run (2:23) and in the 4x800 meter relay team (2:20) ... Was All-State in indoor and outdoor track and field ... Finished 12th in the 500 meter run at the Indoor state championships ... Was a three-year starter on the varsity soccer team ... Her soccer team finished fourth in the state her junior season ... Was awarded two school spirit and scholar awards ... Was a member of the National Honor Society and the NAHS.
2008 CROSS COUNTRY DATE EVENT RESULT 8/29 Western Carolina Open (2-mile) 2nd/6 1. Western Carolina 18 4. King 95 2. GWU 52 5. Newberry 150 3. UNCA 82 6. Warren Wilson 162 9/12 Adidas Wolfpack Invitational (5K) 3rd/12 1. N.C. State 15 7. Francis Marion 221 2. East Carolina 51 8. Methodist 241 3. GWU 80 9. St. Augustine’s 248 4. Virginia Wesleyan 128 10. Shaw 264 5. WSSU 144 11. Greensboro 275 6. Warren Wilson 216 12. St. Paul’s 326 9/20 Catamount Classic (5K) 3rd/4 1. Georgia 15 3. GWU 83 2. Western Carolina 48 4. Savannah A&D 113 9/27 ECU Pirate XC Invitational (5K) 1. N.C. State 17 3. GWU 2. East Carolina 40 10/17 Blue Ridge Open (5K) 1. Clemson 74 12. 2. High Point 83 13. 3. Coastal Carolina 111 14. 4. Appalachian St. 127 15. 5. Davidson 173 16. 6. UNC-Wil. 212 17. 7. Elon 218 18. 8. Milligan 228 19. 9. Western Carolina 229 20. 10. Charleston 322 21. 11. Radford 327 22.
3rd/3 82
22nd/22 USC Upstate 377 UNC-Greens. 393 Campbell 162 VMI 420 Lees-McRae 433 Lenoir-Rhyne 438 Miami 449 Charlotte 459 Longwood 548 Queens 566 GWU 575
11/01 Big South X-C Championships (5K) 7th/9 1. Coastal Carolina 54 6. Winthrop 143 2. Liberty 55 7. GWU 187 3. High Point 58 8. UNCA 193 4. VMI 126 9. Charleston So. 237 5. Radford 130 11/15 NCAA Southeast Regionals (6K) 1. Virginia 105 2. Kentucky 126 3. North Carolina 154 32. GWU
32nd/33
8/29 Western Carolina Open 2nd/6 5. Abby Callahan 12:33.00 7. Carrie Minard 12:36.10 11. Laura Scott 13:05.36 12. Beth Long 13:06.28 17. Diana Palka 13:24.07 19. Rebecca Silleman 13:28.88 21. Elizabeth Glunk 13:38.26 25. Allye Littrell 13:54.09 31. Lia Hudak 14:19.19 32. Cherish Richardson 14:19.89 9/12 Adidas Wolfpack Inv. 15. Abby Callahan 17. Carrie Minard 26. Diana Palka 27. Laura Scott 30. Beth Long 36. Rebecca Silleman 42. Elizabeth Glunk 44. Bree Tharpe 45. Allye Littrell
3rd/12 19:49 19:59 20:42 20:44 20:52 21:29 22:02 22:22 22:28
9/20 Catamount Clash 20. Abby Callahan 22. Carrie Minard 24. Diana Palka 25. Beth Long 27. Laura Scott 28. Rebecca Silleman 31. Bree Tharpe 33. Allye Littrell 34. Elizabeth Glunk 35. Lia Hudak 37. Cherish Richardson
3rd/4 19:44.97 19:52.74 20:25.47 20:32.36 20:50.18 20:53.79 21:21.89 21:34.66 21:49.39 21:51.36 22:29.25
9/27 ECU Pirate XC Inv. 17. Carrie Minard 24. Beth Long 25. Laura Scott 27. Diana Palka 28. Rebecca Silleman 35. Elizabeth Glunk 40. Bree Tharpe 43. Allye Littrell
3rd/3 19:38 20:27 20:31 20:39 20:43 21:20 21:42 21:58
10/17 Blue Ridge Open 89. Carrie Minard 135. Beth Long 138. Laura Scott 139. Diana Palka 155. Rebecca Silleman 182. Elizabeth Glunk 188. Lia Hudak
22nd/22 19:54 20:29 20:34 20:37 21:09 22:14 22:52
11/01 Big South Champ. 29. Carrie Minard 37. Beth Long 40. Laura Scott 46. Abby Callahan 50. Allye Littrell 51. Diana Palka 52. Rebecca Silleman 56. Bree Tharpe 60. Elizabeth Glunk
7th/9 20:28.24 20:52.39 21:06.41 21:32.39 22:02.39 22:05.67 22:08.07 22:29.59 23:22.50
11/15 NCAA Regionals 163. Carrie Minard 205. Beth Long 206. Laura Scott 217. Bree Tharpe 226. Rebecca Silleman
32nd/33 23:58.00 24:53.80 24:54.60 25:39.30 26:41.70
2008 WOMEN’S SEASON REVIEW
2008 WOMEN’S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
2008 WOMEN’S TEAM RESULTS
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GWU Women’s Cross Country Team Receives USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Honors New Orleans – The Gardner-Webb women’s cross country team received recognition for their hard work and dedication in the classroom on Thursday, March 5, as the Bulldogs was honored as a 2008 NCAA Division I All-Academic Team by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Bulldogs, who posted a 3.40 grade point average, were one of 160 NCAA Division I schools to be named as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team. Gardner-Webb was one of only four Big South members, along with Coastal Carolina, High Point and Liberty to receive the honor. For a team to be considered for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award, they must have competed and compiled a team score at an NCAA Regional Meet. The team must also have a minimum 3.00 team cumulative grade point average. ###
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2009 MEN’S TEAM
MEN’S ROSTER Name Justin Cole Jacob Hoyle Nick Kelly Josh Oxendine Josh Padgett Josiah Stanton-Brooks Paul Steinke Jason Wenzel Cobly Witt
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Ht. 5-9 5-8 6-0 6-5 5-8 5-10 6-0 6-0 5-10
Wt. 160 135 145 200 155 160 160 170 145
Class Hometown/Previous School Jr. Travelers Rest, S.C./Travelers Rest H.S. So. Gastonia, N.C./Highland School of Technology So. Burlington, N.C./Walter Williams H.S. Jr. Rutherfordton, N.C./R.S. Central H.S. So. Forest City, N.C./Chase H.S. Fr. Seattle, Wash./Union Grove H.S. Jr. Green Cove Springs, Fla./Trinity Chrisitan Acad. Jr. Miamisburg, Ohio/Dayton Christian H.S. Fr. Winchester, Va./Sherando H.S
PAUL STEINKE
JUNIOR 5-9 * 160 Travelers Rest, S.C.
JUNIOR 6-0 * 160 Green Cove Springs, Fla.
Travelers Rest H.S.
Trinity Christian Academy
Before Gardner-Webb: Attended and lettered at Travelers Resh High School in Travelers Rest, S.C. ... Was a state qualifer in cross country his senior season ... Placed third in the 400-meter hurdles at Greenville County Championships ... Was also a member of the football team for two seasons.
2008 Cross Country: Turned in a time of 20:56 at the 2008 Adidas Wolfpack Invitational (5K). Before Gardner-Webb: Won the region championship in the 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles at Trinity Christian Academy his senior season ... Helped the 4x400m team win the regional championship ... Finished sixth in the state in the 300m hurdles his senior year and helped the 4x400m team to a sixth-place finish at the state championship.
RUNNIN’ BULLDOGS
JUSTIN COLE
JOSH OXENDINE JUNIOR 6-5 * 200 Rutherfordton, N.c. R.S. Central H.S. Before Gardner-Webb: Transfer from Mars Hill College ... Attended and letterred at nearby R.S. Central High School in Rutherfordton, N.C.
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RUNNIN’ BULLDOGS
JASON WENZEL
JACOB HOYLE
JUNIOR 6-0 * 170 Miamisburg, Ohio
SOPHOMORE 5-8 * 135 Gastonia, N.C.
Dayton Christian H.S.
Highland School of Technology
2008 Cross Country: Finished 21st at the WCU Open with a time of 18:10.93 ... Was 49th at the Wolfpack Invitational ... Placed 21st at the Pirate XC Invitational after crossing in 30:15 ... Had a personal-best time of 28:47 at the Blue Ridge Open ... Recorded a time of 30:05.04 for 51st place at the New Balance Big South Conference Championships. Before Gardner-Webb: Competed for Indiana Wesleyan ... Part of the school-record setting DMR team ... NAIA runner-up in the event ... Part of the school-record 4x800m NAIA championship ... Established a school record in the event ... Two-time academic all-Ohio selection ... Part of the school-record setting 4x400m, 4x800m and DMR teams at Dayton Christian H.S. ... Led his high school to the Division III championship his senior season ... Runnerup in the 800m.
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2008 Cross Country: Finished 33rd at the WCU Open after crossing the line in 19:09.14 ... Notched a 44th-place finish with a time of 18:15 at the Wolfpack Invitational ... Garnered 23rd place at the Catamount Classic, finishing in 29:21.24 ... Placed 20th after crossing in 30:08 at the Pirate XC Invitational ... Ran a time of 29:47 at the Blue Ridge Open ... Finished 53rd at the New Balance Big South Conference Championships, crossing in 30:30.31. Before Gardner-Webb: A three-year letterwinner in cross country and track and field at Highland School of Technology ... Qualified for the state meet in cross country his senior season ... Was a regional qualifier in track and field and cross country three times ... Two-time all-county selection ... Two-time winner of the mile ... Two-time Team MVP in cross country.
JOSH PADGETT
SOPHOMORE 6-0 * 145 Burlington, N.C.
SOPHOMORE 5-8 * 155 Forest City, N.C.
Walter Williams H.S.
Chase H.S.
2008 Cross Country: Placed seventh at the WCU Open with a time of 16:42.79 ... Took 20th at the Wolfpack Invitational in a time of 16:56 ... Posted an 11th-place finish, crossing the line in 26:41.1 at the Catamount Classic ... Recorded an 11th-place performance at the Pirate XC Invitational after posting a time of 27:55 over the 8k course ... Ran a personal-best time of 26:33 at the Blue Ridge Open ... Finished 33rd at the New Balance Big South Conference Championships, crossing in 28:16.54 ... Posted a time of 34:36 at the NCAA East Regional.
Before Gardner-Webb: Was a multi-sport student-athlete at nearby Chase High School ... Lettered all four-years at Chase in cross country, wrestling and track and field ... Was an eight-time academic award winner ... Was a Wendy’s High School Heisman finalist.
RUNNIN’ BULLDOGS
NICK KELLY
Before Gardner-Webb: A four-year letterwinner at Walter Williams H.S. ... Conference regional runner of the year in cross country ... Captained the winning regional team ... Second in the state in the 1600m ... Most outstanding Male Athlete award ... School record in the 1600m.
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RUNNIN’ BULLDOGS
JOSIAH STANTON-BROOKS
COLBY WITT
FRESHMAN 5-10 * 160 Seattle, Wash.
FRESHMAN 5-10 * 145 Winchester, Va.
Union Grove H.S. (Georgia)
Sherando H.S.
Before Gardner-Webb: Attended Union Grove High School in Georgia ... Was the two-time All-Region Champion in the 800 and 1600 in track and field ... Finished third in the state in the 800 meter run in 2009 ... Was the Great American Cross Country Invitational Champion in 2008 ... Was part of the 4x800 team that finished fourth at the state meet ... Was named All-Region as both a senior and a junior ... Was a state qualifier as both a senior and a junior ... Was the team MVP in both his senior and junior seasons ... Was the team captain of both the cross country and track and field teams as a senior ... Set personal best times of 1:55.14 in the 800, 16:25 in the 5k and 4:30 in the 1600 meter run.
Before Gardner-Webb: Attended Sherando High School in Winchester, Virginia ... Was named All-Region his senior season ... Set personal best times of 4:32 in the mile, 9:39 in the 2-mile and 2:02 in the 800 his senior season ... Also set a personal best time of 16:58 in the 5k.
CROSS COUNTRY SUPPORT STAFF
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Stephenie Stark
Pam Scruggs
Mike Roebuck
Stephen Dolan
Tracy Sibley
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Associate Athletics Director/SWA
Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Services
Assistant Athletics Director for NCAA Compliance
Director of Strength & Conditioning
2008 CROSS COUNTRY DATE EVENT RESULT 8/29 Western Carolina Open (5K) 4th/6 1. Western Carolina 34 4. GWU 101 2. UNCA 37 5. Newberry 138 3. King 64 6. Warren Wilson 149 9/12 Adidas Wolfpack Invitational (5K) 5th/14 1. N.C. State 15 8. Mt. Olive 219 2. East Carolina 64 9. St. Augustine 267 3. Virginia Wesleyan 102 10. Shaw 283 4. Francis Marion 131 11. St. Paul 311 5. GWU 141 12. Methodist 319 6. WSSU 169 13. Greensboro 357 7. Warren Wilson 198 14. Louisburg 424 9/20 Catamount Classic (8K) 4th/5 1. Georgia 18 4. GWU 98 2. Western Carolina 47 5. Savannah A&D 141 3. Savannah A&D 90 9/27 ECU Pirate XC Invitational (8K) 1. N.C. State 15 3. GWU 2. East Carolina 50 4. Mt. Olive 10/17 Blue Ridge Open (8K) 1. North Carolina 43 14. 2. Queens Univ. 53 15. 3. Duke 62 16. 4. Appalachian St. 119 17. 5. Clemson 164 18. 6. High Point 172 19. 7. Elon 243 20. 8. VMI 257 21. 9. Campbell 270 22. 10. Davidson 276 23. 11. UNC-Greens. 288 24. 12. Mars Hill 399 25. 13. Milligan 400 26.
3rd/4 84 108
25th/26 Western Carolina434 UNC-Wil. 444 Coastal Carolina 471 Lees-McRae 506 Longwood 525 Miami 533 Charleson 552 UNCA 567 Roanoke 613 USC Upstate 651 Lenoir-Rhyne 682 GWU 707 Wofford 734
8/29 Western Carolina Open 4th/6 7. Nick Kelly 16:42.79 15. Justin Keziah 17:08.75 21. Jason Wenzel 18:10.93 32. Erin Goodrum 19:08.33 33. Jacob Hoyle 19:09.14 9/12 Adidas Wolfpack Inv. 20. Nick Kelly 32. Justin Keziah 43. Tim Israel 44. Jacob Hoyle 49. Jason Wenzel 71. Erin Goodrum 80. Paul Steinke 9/20 Catamount Clash 14. Nick Kelly 21. Tim Israel 23. Justin Keziah 27. Jacob Hoyle 32. Erin Goodrum 9/27 ECU Pirate XC Inv. 15. Nick Kelly 20. Tim Israel 22. Justin Keziah 23. Charlie Steinke 24. Jacob Hoyle 26. Jason Wenzel
5th/14 17:09 17:33 18:15 18:15 18:25 20:01 20:56 4th/5 26:41.31 28:27.33 28:41.80 29:21.24 30:46.25
10/17 Blue Ridge Open 78. Nick Kelly 138. Jason Wenzel 192. Tim Israel 196. Charlie Steinke 199. Jacob Hoyle 205. Erin Goodrum
25th/26 26:33 28:47 29:03 29:38 29:47 30:42
11/01 Big South Champ. 35. Nick Kelly 43. Tim Israel 55. Charlie Steinke 57. Jason Wenzel 60. Jacob Hoyle 62. Justin Keziah 65. Erin Goodrum
8th/9 28:16.54 28:57.73 29:45:54 30:05.04 30:30.31 31:06.86 31:47.44
11/15 NCAA Regionals 152. Nick Kelly 189. Tim Israel 201. Charlie Steinke
N/A 34:36.00 36:04.00 37:28.50
2008 MEN’S SEASON REVIEW
2008 MEN’S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
2008 MEN’S TEAM RESULTS
3rd/4 27:55 29:32 29:43 30:01 30:08 30:15
11/01 Big South X-C Championships (8K) 8th/9 1. Liberty 28 6. Winthrop 151 2. High Point 64 Radford 151 3. VMI 79 8. GWU 224 4. Coastal Carolina 134 9. Charleston So. 240 5. UNCA 147
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GWU ADMINISTRATION 16
DR. A. FRANK BONNER
CHUCK BURCH
Gardner-Webb University President
Vice President for Athletics
Dr. A. Frank Bonner, in his fifth year as the president of Gardner-Webb University, took office on May 2, 2005, and was inaugurated on April 6, 2006. Bonner is no stranger to Gardner-Webb, having been a part of the University family since 1987. A native of Greenville, S.C., Bonner graduated from Furman University in 1969, has a M.A. degree from the University of Georgia and earned a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a faculty member and Associate Dean at Anderson College in Anderson, S.C., prior to beginning his career in Boiling Springs as Vice President for Academic Affairs. In 1992, Bonner was promoted to provost and senior vice president at Gardner-Webb, a post he held until assuming his current role in 2005. After a comprehensive, national search for the university’s new president, chairman of the presidential search committee and the board of trustees, Frank Beam, said, “We came to the conclusion that we had the most qualified candidate right here at the university.” Bonner succeeded Dr. Frank Campbell, who served Gardner-Webb University as president from October, 2002 until June, 2005. Active in civic life and in the community, Bonner has served on the boards of the United Way, the YMCA, and Communities in Schools, and he serves on the Cleveland County Sports Commission. He is a past chairman of the Cleveland County Chamber, a past president of the Shelby Rotary Club, and a Sunday School teacher and deacon at First Baptist Church in Shelby. Bonner is also a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. During Bonner’s time as provost, Gardner-Webb emerged as a vibrant institution for higher learning, officially moving from college to university in 1993. The institution’s academic reputation has steadily improved during Bonner’s time in Boiling Springs, with a tremendous faculty and consistently evolving curriculum. Bonner is married to the former Florence “Flossie” Black of Chester, S.C., also a graduate of Furman University. They are parents of two adult daughters and four grandchildren.
Gardner-Webb alumnus Chuck Burch is in his 13th year as Vice President for Athletics and his 28th year in athletics administration. The Charlotte, N.C., native spearheaded the Bulldogs move into Division I athletics, which resulted in Gardner-Webb’s addition to the Big South Conference as an associate member for football in 2001, and GWU’s move to the Big South as a full member – which became official on July 1, 2008. Burch oversees all athletic operations at Gardner-Webb, including management and supervision of athletic programs, facilities and budgets. During his career at GWU, Burch has overseen across-the-board improvements in facilities and the addition of five new sports since arriving in 1997. A sixth sport, men’s swimming was added in 2007-08. Burch is also responsible for continued improvements in the quality and quantity of Gardner-Webb’s athletics staff – with a number of full-time positions created to assist and enhance the entire department. GWU athletics has seen a steady increase in academic performance since Burch’s arrival, and the department has posted a combined GPA above 3.0 in each of the last two academic years. Gardner-Webb’s final year in the Atlantic Sun Conference was fruitful, with several notable wins and the usual high number of strong academic performances by the Bulldogs’ student-athletes. GWU enjoyed its most successful athletics year as a Division I member in 2006-07. Gardner-Webb won its first Atlantic Sun Conference Academic Championship, unseating Belmont University for the title. The Bulldogs also finished third in the men’s and women’s combined sports standings – a very impressive effort in the race for the inaugural Bill Bibb Trophy. Gardner-Webb’s men’s soccer team captured the imagination of faces across Cleveland County during its run to the 2006 A-Sun Championship and the NCAA Tournament second round. National qualifiers in Track & Field, swimming and wrestling highlighted competitive success for the Bulldogs in 2006-2007. Burch, a graduate of Independence (N.C.) High in Charlotte, and former member of Gardner-Webb’s football team, spent 1991-1997 as Director of Athletics at Liberty (Va.) University, and was instrumental in a successful and well run department in Lynchburg as well. He also served Liberty as Associate Director of Athletics (1988-1990), Assistant Director of Athletics (19841988), Sports Information Director (1986-1988) and Assistant Director of Sports Information (1982-1984). After graduating from Gardner-Webb in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in Social Science, Burch, 52, earned his master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University in 1982. His wife, Franki, holds a Ph.D. in Health Education from the University of Virginia, and is a member of the faculty at Gardner-Webb. The couple has three children, Travis, a recent graduate of Furman University, Danielle, a sophomore soccer player at Brevard (N.C.) College and Amy (15).
Majors offered at GWU Perhaps there is no greater time to observe the academic quality of Gardner-Webb University than right now. All of the necessary factors for academic
excellence – faculty, students, resources, curriculum – are working in conjunction with one another to gain widespread acclaim from alumni, friends, trustees, the media and the community. Over 130 full-time faculty members comprise a group of educators at GWU being heralded as the "premiere class of instructors ever assembled at the University." Over 80 percent of the faculty hold a Ph.D. or equivalent, and many boast of well-documented activities in the business and professional worlds. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1, Gardner-Webb is able to provide personal instruction to its students, who now number over 4,000, making Gardner-Webb the fifth-largest private institution in North Carolina. New technological features in our library enhance the learning experience for a higher quality student. The incoming freshman class this year averaged over 1020 on the SAT and a 3.5 GPA.
Undergraduate Programs Accounting American Sign Language Art Athletic Training Biology Business Administration Chemistry Communications
Computer Science Elementary Education (K-6) English Finance French Health & Wellness History International Business
Graduate School of Business MBA in Business Administration M.Acc. in Accounting I.MBA in International Business
GOAL Programs Bachelor of Science in:
Accounting Business Administration Criminal Justice Health Management Human Services Management Information Systems Nursing Religious Studies
Doctoral degrees offered Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
Journalism Management Information Systems Mathematics Medical Technology Middle School Education (6-9) Music Business Music Composition Music Education
Music Performance Nursing Physical Education Physician Assistant Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Sacred Music
Social Science Sociology Spanish Sports Management Theater Arts
Graduate School M.A. in Mental Health Counselling
M.A. in Elementary Education (K-6) M.A. in English M.A. in English Education (K-6) M.A. in Middle Grades Education (9-12) M.A. in Nursing M.A. in School Administration (K-12) M.A. in School Counseling M.A. in Sport Science & Pedagogy
School of Divinity Master of Divinity (M.Div.) M.D M.Div. in Christian Education M.Div. in Church Music M.Div/MBA M.Div. in Missiology M.Div. in Pastoral Care and Counseling