2012 Gardner-Webb Men’s Tennis TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents / Credits ......................................................................................1 2012 Roster ............................................................................................................2 2012 Schedule ........................................................................................................3 Coaching Staff ..................................................................................................... 4-5 Head Coach Mike Griffith ...............................................................................4 Assistant Coach Evgeny Slexarev ..................................................................5 Assistant Coach Rafael Altmayer ...................................................................5 Meet The Runnin’ Bulldogs ................................................................................ 6-11 Adam Knutsson-Sundblad .............................................................................6 Matthew Parker .............................................................................................7 Roman Piftor ..................................................................................................8 Korhan Ates ...................................................................................................9 Ernest Alberch ...............................................................................................9 Brendan Dempsey .......................................................................................10 Blake Dunlap ...............................................................................................10 Stephen Martin ............................................................................................11 Joao Poli ......................................................................................................11 2011 Season Statistics........................................................................................12 2011 Season Results ..........................................................................................13 All-Time Division I Letterwinners .........................................................................14 GWU Administration .............................................................................................15 President Dr. A. Frank Bonner.....................................................................15 V.P. for Athletics Chuck Burch .............................................................. 15 GWU Athletic Facilities ..........................................................................................16 Majors Offered at GWU ........................................................................................17
GWUSPORTS.COM
GWUSports.com serves as the official athletics website of Gardner-Webb University, and provides up to the minute news on all Runnin’ Bulldog teams through the athletic seasons. The site provides media and fans with player profiles, photos, press releases and feature stories, in addition to game results, statistics, schedules and team rosters.
UNIVERSITY QUICK FACTS
School Name: ............................................................... Gardner-Webb University Location: ............................................................................. Boiling Springs, N.C. Founded: .....................................................................................................1905 Enrollment: ................................................................................................. 4200 Nickname: .................................................................................Runnin’ Bulldogs Colors: ..........................................................................................Red and Black Tennis Venue: ................................................................... Webb Tennis Complex Affiliation: .....................................................................................NCAA Division I Conference: ......................................................................................... Big South President: ............................................................................ Dr. A. Frank Bonner Athletics Director: ............................................................................Chuck Burch Athletics Dept. Phone: ............................................................. (704) 406-4340 Web site: .............................................................................www.GWUSports.com
GWU ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Assistant A.D. of Athletic Media Relations: ........................................ Marc Rabb Assistant Sports Information Director: .............................................. Kevin Davis Sports Information G.A/Men’s Tennis Contact: ............................ Saxon Simpson Email Address: .................................................... ssimpson@gardner-webb.edu Office Phone: ........................................................................... (704) 406-3981 Office Fax: ................................................................................ (704) 406-4739 Mailing Address: Gardner-Webb University Department of Athletics P.O. Box 877 Boiling Springs, N.C. 28017
MEDIA GUIDE CREDITS
The 2012 Gardner-Webb University men’s tennis media guide was designed by Saxon Simpson. It was written and edited by Simpson using Adobe InDesign CS2 and Photoshop CS2 software (MacIntosh Platform). Editor: .......................................................................................... Saxon Simpson Design:......................................................................................... Saxon Simpson Cover Design:............................................................................... Saxon Simpson Photos Provided By: ................................. A-Sun Photo Team, Big South Photos Gardner-Webb admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic ori- ...........GWU Photo Team, USC Aiken Photo Team, Saxon Simpson, Ryan Bridges
gin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other school-administered programs.
A special thanks to head coach Mike Griffith for his assistance with this publication.
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2012 Roster Name Ernest Alberch Korhan Ates Brendan Dempsey Blake Dunlap Adam Knutsson-Sunblad Stephen Martin Matthew Parker Roman Piftor Joao Poli
Ht. 5-11 5-11 5-10 5-9 6-2 6-0 5-10 5-10 5-11
Yr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. So. So. Fr.
Hometown/Previous School Torello, Spain Istanbul, Turkey/Ozel Goksen Aksam Lisesi Dublin, Ireland/St. Michael’s College Mooresville, N.C./Statesville Christian School Goteborg, Sweden/Katrinelundsgymnasiet Bray, Ireland/Presentation College Bray Marietta, Ga./Pope High School Tashkent, Uzbekistan/R. College of Olimpic Reserves Londrina, Brazil/Colegio Anglo-Americano
Back Row (from left to right): Korhan Ates, Roman Piftor, Adam Knutsson-Sundblad, Matt Parkerr, Stephen Martin Front Row (from left to right): Brendan Dempsey, Ernets Alberch, Blake Dunlap, Joao Poli
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2012 Schedule Date
Opponent
Location
Sat, Jan 14 Thu, Jan 26 Sat, Jan 28 Sat, Feb 04 Wed, Feb 08 Sun, Feb 12 Sat, Feb 18 Thu, Feb 23 Sun, Feb 26 Sun, Feb 26 Tue, Feb 28 Thu, Mar 01 Fri, Mar 02 Sat, Mar 03 Sat, Mar 17 Sun, Mar 18 Wed, Mar 21 Sun, Mar 25 Wed, Mar 28 Sat, Mar 31 Sun, Apr 01 Tue, Apr 03 Wed, Apr 11 Sun, Apr 15
N.C. State USC Upstate Davidson UNC Greensboro Lees-McRae Chattanooga Elon Appalachian State *Radford Spartanburg Methodist Wofford Brevard Anderson Georgia State Charlotte *Liberty *Winthrop *Coastal Carolina *Presbyterian Abraham Baldwin South Carolina St. *UNC Asheville *Campbell Tennessee Tech
at Raleigh, N.C. Boiling Springs, N.C. at Davidson, N.C. at Greensboro, N.C. Boiling Springs, N.C. at Chattanooga, Tenn. at Elon, N.C. Boiling Springs, N.C. Boiling Springs, N.C. Boiling Springs, N.C. Boiling Springs, N.C. Brevard, N.C. at Anderson, S.C. Boiling Springs, N.C. Boiling Springs, N.C. at Lynchburg, Va. Boiling Springs, N.C. Boiling Springs, N.C. Clifton, S.C. Boiling Springs, N.C. Boiling Springs, N.C. Asheville, N.C. Buies Creek, N.C. Boiling Springs, N.C.
Thu, Apr 21 Sun, Apr 24
Big South Tournament *
at Asheville, N.C.
Time TBA 2:00 PM 12:00 PM 4:00 PM 2:30 PM 10:00 AM 1:30 PM 2:00 PM 1:00 PM 4:00 PM 2:30 PM 11:00 AM 3:00 PM 1:00 PM 10:00 AM 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 1:00 PM 3:00 PM 11:00 AM 12:30 PM 2:30 PM 2:00 PM 1:00 PM TBA
Home Matches In Bold * = Big South Conference matches All match times Eastern time and subject to change
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Mike Griffith Head Men’s Tennis Coach • TENTH Season Gardner-Webb head coach Mike Griffith is entering his tenth year at the helm of the Runnin’ Bulldog men’s tennis program. In 2010-11, Griffith lead GWU men’s tennis to a dual record of 11-12. The Runnin’ Bulldogs entered the Big South Tournament as the No. 4 seed after posting an even 3-3 mark in Conference play. Despite exiting the Tournament early with a first-round loss to UNC Asheville, Coach Griffith’s Runnin’ Bulldogs experienced a successful season which included a 4-3 road win over perennial MEAC front-runner South Carolina State. In 2009-10, Griffith guided the Runnin’ Bulldogs to a 12-14 overall record. The Runnin’ Bulldogs finshed in fifth place in the Big South regular season standings, yet upset the fourth seeded Liberty Flames in the first round of the Big South Tournament before falling to the top-seeded Radford Highlanders. Griffith’s top player, Evgeny Slesarev earned 2010 Big South Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Year honors, becoming the first GWU men’s tennis player to earn such honors. He was also named Player of the Week three times, while earning the first-ever GWU men’s tennis player to earn the Atlantic Sun Men’s Tennis All-Conference honors in singles and doubles. Fellow senior Rafael Altmayer also Player of Week Award. earned Doubles All-Conference honors, as he partnered with Slesarev throughout the season. During his tenure at Gardner-Webb, Griffith has had 17 of his athletes named Inter collegiate Tennis Association Academic All Americans and has also seen both Griffith guided Gardner-Webb to a nine-win campaign during its inaugural season the men’s and women’s teams be named as an ITA All-Academic Team twice durin the Big South Conference. The Runnin’ Bulldogs finished fourth in the regular ing his time in Boiling Springs. GWU’s men’s team also won the ITA All-Academic season standings, but were upset by the fifth seeded Liberty Flames in the first Team award in 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2004. The prestigious round of the Big South Tournament. award is given to teams with a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher and individuals with a GPA of 3.5 or higher while being a varsity letter winner. In addition to the nine-win season, Griffith’s No. 1 player Evgeny Slesarev earned In 2010, his men’s tennis team was awarded the Big South Conference Team Big South Singles and Doubles All-Conference accolades. Slesarev also posted Sportsmanship Award. the best single-season record in GWU tennis history, going 21-5 in 2009. Fellow teammate Rafael Altmayer also earned Doubles All-Conference accolades as he and Along with his coaching resume, Griffith also boasts an accomplished tennis career. Slesarev finished 3-2 in Big South action last season. While at Anderson Junior College, Griffith’s team won the 1986 National ChampionIn 2007-08, Griffith guided Gardner-Webb to a 13-14 overall campaign in the Atlantic Sun Conference while the team finished fifth in the regular season standings. His squad then upset No. 4 seed Jacksonville in the first round of the A-Sun Tournament. Slesarev earned A-Sun first-team accolades that season and on April 20, he earned A-Sun Player of the Week honors for the second time.
ship. After transferring to Winthrop, Griffith earned all-Big South Conference honors in 1987 and 1988. During summer months, Griffith is very active in tennis camps and recruiting. Over the years he has worked at Lehigh, Clemson, Furman, William & Mary, Wofford and Alabama. Griffith takes pride in the 2006-07 freshman class, which was voted one of the top early signing classes of Division I schools by tennisrecruiting.net.
In 2006-07, Griffth coached the Runnin’ Bulldogs to a 10-13 overall record, making it the first year that the program had 10 wins since its transition from a Division II Griffith also currently serves as the chairperson for the Big South Conference men’s institution. tennis coaches committee. Griffith also guided the Runnin’ Bulldogs to a No. 4 seed in the 2007 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship tournament, the highest-ever seeding for GWU in the post-season conference tournament. The Runnin’ Bulldogs saw two members receive post-season honors as Slesarev was named first-team All-Atlantic Sun and named to the A-Sun All-Freshmen team. Fellow classmate Grant VanRensburg the garnered Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team accolades. In March, Slesarev became
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The Greenwood, S.C., native earned his associate of arts degree from Anderson in 1986 and his bachelor of arts degree from Winthrop in 1988. Griffith and his wife, Donna, currently reside in Gastonia, N.C., where Donna is an elementary school teacher for Gaston County Schools. The couple has an nine-year old son, Carson.
Evgeny Slesarev Assistant Men’s Tennis Coach • Second Season Evgeny Slesarev is enterising his second season as assistant coach at Gardner-Webb University. Slesarev recently wrapped up his playing career as the most decorated men’s tennis player in Gardner-Webb history. His 70 singles and 46 doubles victories are both school records at the Division I level, and was named Big South Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Year following the completion of his senior year. Slesarev was the first male student-athlete from Gardner-Webb to earn Player of the Year honors from the Big South. Slesarev also earned All-Conference accolades each of his four years as a Runnin’ Bulldog. The Krasnoyarsk, Russia native recently earned his undergraduate degree from Gardner-Webb, majoring in Business Administration. He is currently enrolled in Gardner-Webb’s Godbold School of Business, pursuing his master’s degree.
Rafael Altmayer Assistant Men’s Tennis Coach • First Season Rafael Altmayer is enterising his first season as assistant coach at Gardner-Webb University. From Porto Alegre, Do Sul, Brazil, Altmayer was a four-year letter winner for Gardner-Webb and Head Coach Mike Griffith, completing his final season at GWU in 2009-2010. Altmayer was an invaluable member of Gardner-Webb’s men’s tennis team during his playing career, racking up over 30 singles wins. Altmayer’s versatility showed through during his playing time at GWU, as he saw time at five different singles positions. Altmayer was named to both the Big South Presidential Honor Roll as well as the Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team during his four years as a Runnin’ Bulldog.
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Adam KnutssonSundblad 6-3 • Junior • Gothenburg, Sweden • Katrinelundsgymnasiet
2011: Teamed with GWU’s Korhan Ates to earn Big South flight champion honors at the #3 doubles slot ... Went 8-14 in singles competion on the year ... Won three matches at the #3 position on the year for Gardner-Webb ... Notched a 4-2 record at the #5 spot late in the year for the Runnin’ Bulldogs ... Teamed with GWU’s Korhan Ates to form a doubles tandem that went 11-2 overall and 6-0 in Big South play ... Was a part of a team-high 14 doubles wins on the season ... ITA Scholar-Athlete for 2011 2010: Played in 25 singles matches, winning eight ... Was 1-0 at the No. 1 position ... Took part in 17 doubles matches with five different partners ... Won four doubles matches, including at topranked University of Virginia ... Member of the Big South Conference Presidential Honor Roll High School/Club: Competed for Katrinelundsgymnasiet under coaches Tommy Stjernros and Ludde Jarpmyr ... Also played for Gothia Tennis Personal: Born September 30, 1990 in Gothenburg, Sweden ... Son of Hakan Knutsson and Lena Sundlad ... Majoring in Sociology
2010: 2011: Career:
Singles 8-17 8-14 16-31
Doubles 4-13 14-5 18-18
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Matthew Parker 5-10 • Junior • Marietta, Ga. • Pope High School 2011: Posted an 8-8 singles record on the year, including a 7-6 mark at the #6 slot ... Won in straight sets in the regular season match win against UNC Asheville ... Took a win in singles play in the road victory over Charlotte ... ITA Scholar-Athlete for 2011 2010: Took part in four singles matches throughout the season, posting a 3-1 record ... Was 1-0 at the No. 5 position ... Participated in nine doubles matches throughout the course of the season ... Teamed with Roman Piftor to earn a doubles victory against Pfeiffer High School/Personal: Trained at the Universal Tennis Academy, one of the most prestigious tennis academies in the nation ... Played at Pope High School for coach David Thomas … Intends to major in finance ... He is the son of Janet Parker
2010: 2011: Career:
Singles 3-1 8-8 11-9
Doubles 1-8 0-5 1-13
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Roman Piftor 5-10 • Junior • Tashkent, Uzbekistan • R. College of Olympic Reserves
2011: Posted an 18-5 record in singles play over the course of the season, including a 9-3 mark at the #5 position ... Knocked off an ITA ranked player (6-2, 6-1) in the win over South Carolina State ... Went 3-3 in singles play against Big South competition ... Part of a doubles tandem that went 7-5 in 2011 ... Earned a singles win at #4 in the Big South Tournament vs. UNC Asheville ... 18 singles match victories were a team high in 2011 2010: Participated in 20 singles matches, posting a 12-8 overall record ... Was 1-0 at the No. 2 position ... Took part in 18 doubles matches with four different partners ... Was victorious in four doubles matches ... Named Big South Freshman of the Week twice during the season ... Member of the Big South Conference Presidential Honor Roll High School/Personal: Attended Republican College of Olimpic Reserves ... Entered Gardner-Webb ranked 175th in the world among 18 year olds by the ITF ... Majoring in Athletic Training
2010: 2011: Career:
Singles 12-8 18-5 30-13
Doubles 4-14 10-12 14-26
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Korhan Ates 5-11 • Sophomore • Istanbul, Turkey • Ozel Goksen Aksam Lisesi 2011: Recognized by the Big South Conference alongside Adam Knutsson-Sundblad for being flight champions at the #3 doubles position ... Posted a record of 11-12 in singles play in 2011 ... Went 9-11 at the #2 position for the Runnin’ Bulldogs ... Also posted a 2-1 mark at the #3 slot for GWU ... Teamed with Knutsson-Sundlbad to go 11-2 overall and 6-0 in the Big South in doubles competition ... Had a hand in 12 doubles victories on the hard court in 2011 High School/Personal: Attended Ozel Goksen Aksam Lisesi in Turkey ... Has extensive international experience, being ranked as high at #327 by the ITF ... Played for the Turkish national team ... Also excels in the classroom, graduating second in his class ... He is the son of Yakup Ural and Raziye Ates. 2010: Career:
Singles 11-12 11-12
Doubles 12-10 12-10
Ernest Alberch 5-11 • Freshman • Torello, Spain
High School / Club: Competed for IES under Jaume Callis ... Was ranked in the Top 260 at his level in Spain ... Also competed for Real Club de tennis Barcelona ... Helped club team to wins in the Catolonia Championship in both the under-16 and under-18 categories Personal: Born May 31, 1992 in Torello, Spain ... Son of Jordi Alberch Serra and Montserrat Romeu Palou ... Majoring in Business Administration
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Brendan Dempsey 5-10 • Freshman • Dublin, Ireland • St. Michael’s College High School/Club: Played at St. Michael’s College under coach Owen Casey ... Earned first place honors at National Indoors in the Under 18 Division in 2011 Personal: Born February 18, 1993 in Dublin, Ireland ... Son of Kevin and Colette Dempsey ... Majoring in Accounting
Blake Dunlap 5-9 • Mooresville, N.C. • Statesville Christian School High School / Club: Competed for Statesville Christian School (Statesville, N.C.) under Head Coach Bryan Andrews ... Earned the team’s Lion Award given to student-athletes playing more than two sports while holding a GPA greater than 3.5 Personal: Born May 29, 1993 in Mooresville, N.C. ... Son of Burt and Kathy Dunlap ... Majoring in Accounting
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Stephen Martin 6-0 • Freshman • Bray, Ireland • Presentation College Bray High School/Club: Competed at Presentation College Bray prior to enrolling at GardnerWebb ... Trained under coach Conor Casey Personal: Born October 20, 1992 in Dublin, Ireland ... Son of James and Moira Martin ... Majoring in Accounting
Joao Poli 5-11 • Freshman • Londrina, Brazil • Collegio Anglo-Americano High School/Club: Played for Colegio Anglo-Americano prior to enrolling at GWU ... Trained under coaches Marcelo Tebel and Jose Guilherme Danelon Personal: Born January 19, 1994 in Londrina, Parana, Brazil ... Son of Thales and Adriana Poli ... Majoring in Business Administration
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2011 Statistics Overall: 11-12, Big South Conference: 3-3
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2011 Results
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All-Time Division I Letterwinners -AAbrahao, Daniel - 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Altmayer, Rafael - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Ates, Korhan - 2011 -BBeheler, Jason - 2001 Bernthal, Ryan - 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Boozer, Brandon - 2005 Brady, Chris - 2005 Brown, Aaron - 2001, 2002 -CCarter, Andrew - 2011 Clinard, Brad - 2006 Conley, Andrew - 2005 Cooper, Matthew - 2001, 2002 -EEdmonds, Bryan - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Ellis, Kim - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 -FFerrier, Taylor - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 -HHerrock, Matthew - 2010 -KKenny, William - 2010 Knutsson-Sundblad - 2010, 2011 -LLawlor, Jamie - 2008, 2009 -OOsborne, Michael - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 -PParker, Matthew - 2010, 2011 Piftor, Roman - 2010, 2011 Pinzon, Miguel - 2009 Phillip, Kern - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Proctor, Eric - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 -QQuijano, Carlos - 2008, 2009
-RRay, Joshua - 2008 -SSekulic, Ilija - 2001, 2002, 2003 Skelton, Philip - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Slesarev, Evgeny - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Stroup, Josh - 2001 -TTardiff, Jeremie - 2010 -VVan Rensburg, Grant - 2007, 2008, 2009 Vasques, Roberto - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Veeder, Andrew - 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Veiga, Gabe - 2006, 2007 -WWadwani, Amit - 2002 Weening, Alexander - 2002
Andrew Veeder
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Administration Dr. A. Frank Bonner
Chuck Burch
PRESIDENT
V.P. FOR ATHLETICS
Dr. A. Frank Bonner, in his seventh 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 an outstanding 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 15th year as Vice President for Athletics and his 30th 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 (1984-1988), 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 graduate of Furman University, Danielle, a student at Brevard (N.C.) College, and Amy, a senior at Crest High School.
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Campus Facilities Gardner-Webb University’s campus has experienced tremendous growth and improvements to facilities, both academic and athletic, over the past 10 years. The school provides students with an excellent environment for learning and enjoying the college experience to its fullest. One of the newest facilities on campus, the Suttle Wellness Center is one of the most modern facilities of its kind on any campus in America. Whether you’re there to play billiards, ping-pong or air hockey, you can relax with friends in its cozy atmosphere. A spacious area with countless fitness machines and free weights is located in the heart of the building, providing a top-notch facility for aerobic and anaerobic training for the entire student body. The Complex is also home to the legendary Bost Gymnasium, where countless intramural contests are held. University Commons, a set of apartment-style dormitories just adjacent to the beautiful Lake Hollifield Complex, is the newest and most impressive living facility on campus. A cutting-edge concept in on-campus housing, University Commons combines all the amenities of comfortable living – full kitchens, spacious living quarters, washer/ dryers, and private bedrooms and baths. Internet connections and instant access to the GWU technology center make living conditions both modern and functional. Six separate buildings comprise University Commons, which has quickly become a popular choice among resident students. The postcard site of the University, the Lake Hollifield Complex, features the most modern bell tower in America on its six-acre facility. Walking trails, a picturesque lake, gazebo and swings are popular features for GWU students, faculty and staff, as well as residents from the surrounding communities. A newer feature of campus, the Broyhill Adventure Course has an impressive ropes course and climbing wall used by church and student groups, businesses and organizations to teach leadership and team-building skills.
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Located just beyond Lake Hollifield, the Broyhill Adventure Course is nestled in a wooded area that provides the perfect outdoor setting for physical exercise and activity. The Broyhill Course is one of the many campus features that make Gardner-Webb a nationally recognized character-building institution, an award designated by the Templeton Foundation of Washington, D.C. New technological features on our campus enhance the learning experience for a higher quality student. For example, Gardner-Webb’s Dover Library provides students with all the research and reference tools necessary for undergraduate and graduate educational pursuits. A helpful staff, computer databases, stacks of research materials and NC Live – a special computer system linking library resources from around the world – are all featured. One of the newest buildings on campus is also the oldest. Hamrick Hall, the only building remaining from the original GWU campus, was dormant for several years before being completely refurbished with ultra-modern amenities. It now houses the School of Business, with state-of-the-art computer labs, offices for business faculty and a 310-seat multimedia auditorium. Newly renovated Ernest W. Spangler Stadium, once voted one of the best venues to watch collegiate football in North Carolina, now seats over 7,500 and provides fans with a cozy atmosphere for enjoying a college football Saturday. The brand new football center, opened in September, 2004, houses state-of-the-art offices, locker rooms and a 5,600-square foot weight room which is open to all GardnerWebb student-athletes. The Webb Tennis Complex features 12 lighted courts, giving the Gardner-Webb tennis program the capabilities to host events and tournaments at all times.The multi-court facility also provides the tennis teams with ample space for practice.
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Majors Offered 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 3,900, 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 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
GOAL PROGRAMS Bachelor of Science in: Accounting Business Administration Criminal Justice Health Management Human Services Management Information Systems Nursing Religious Studies
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
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS MBA in Business Administration M.Acc. in Accounting I.MBA in International Business
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
DOCTORAL PROGRAMS OFFERED Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
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