2014 Gardner-Webb Men’s Tennis TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents / Credits ......................................................................................1 2014 Roster ............................................................................................................2 2014 Schedule ........................................................................................................3 Coaching Staff ..................................................................................................... 4-5 Head Coach Mike Griffith ...............................................................................4 Assistant Coach Evgeny Slexarev ..................................................................5 Assistant Coach Adam Knutsson ...................................................................5 Meet The Runnin’ Bulldogs ................................................................................ 6-14 Ernest Alberch ..............................................................................................6 Korhan Ates ..................................................................................................7 Brendan Dempsey ........................................................................................8 Benjamin Kaszás ...........................................................................................9 Jonathan Walker ..........................................................................................10 Nikita Zverkov ..............................................................................................11 Pepe Batalla ................................................................................................12 Paul Hogan ..................................................................................................12 Nicholas Lofrumento ................................................................................. 13 Tyler Macy ..................................................................................................13 A.J. Stillwell ..................................................................................................14 Focus on: Sophomore Benjamin Kaszás .............................................................15 Focus on: Matthew Parker ..................................................................................16 All-Time Division I Letterwinners .........................................................................17 GWU Administration .............................................................................................18 President Dr. A. Frank Bonner.....................................................................18 V.P. for Athletics Chuck Burch .............................................................. 18 GWU Campus Life ................................................................................................19 Majors Offered at GWU ........................................................................................20
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 Director of Sports Information: ..................................................... Whitney Noble Graduate Assistant for Athletic Media Relations: ......................... 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
Brendan Dempsey
The 2014 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, Saxon Simpson
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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2014 Roster Name Ernest Alberch Korhan Ates Pepe Batalla Brendan Dempsey Paul Hogan Benjamin Kaszás Nicholas Lofrumento Tyler Macy A.J. Stillwell Jonathan Walker Nikita Zverkov
Ht. 5-11 5-10 5-8 5-10 6-5 6-1 5-9 5-9 6-0 5-11 6-0
Yr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. So.
Hometown/Previous School Torello, Spain Istanbul, Turkey Barcelona, Spain Dublin, Ireland/St. Michael’s College Lenoir, N.C. Budapest, Hungary Cocoa Beach, Fla. Elkin, N.C. Elkin, N.C./Faith Christian School Moscow, Russia
Back Row (from left to right): Head Coach Mike Griffith, A.J. Stillwell, Nikita Zverkov, Ben Kaszás, Paul Hogan Ernest Alberch, Korhan Ates Front Row (from left to right): Athletic Trainer Allie Mills, Jonathan Walker, Tyler Macy, Pepe Batalla, Nicholas Lofrumento, Brendan Dempsey
2014 Schedule Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Sun, Jan. 19 Fri., Jan. 31 Sat., Feb. 1 Wed., Feb. 5 Sat., Feb. 8 Sat., Feb. 8 Mon., Feb. 10 Fri., Feb. 14 Sat., Feb 15 Sun., Feb. 16 Sat., Feb. 22 Sun., Feb. 23 Thu., Feb. 27 Sat., Mar. 1 Wed., Mar. 12 Thur., Mar. 13 Fri., Mar. 14 Wed., Mar. 19 Fri., Mar. 21 Sun., Mar. 23 Wed., Mar. 28 Sun., Mar. 30 Sat., Apr. 4 Thu., Apr. 10
Clemson USC Upstate Augusta State Charlotte North Greenville Wingate Brevard Furman Davidson *Radford *Campbell *UNC Greensboro Wofford Brown Coastal Georgia Georgia Southern Savannah College of Art and Design *Presbyterian Appalachian State *Coastal Carolina *Longwood *Liberty *Winthrop *UNC Asheville
at Clemson, S.C. 4:00 p.m. Boiling Springs, N.C. 2:00 p.m. at Augusta, Ga. 1:00 p.m. at Charlotte, N.C. 2:00 p.m. Boiling Springs, N.C. 10:30 a.m. Boiling Springs, N.C. 1:00 p.m. at Brevard, N.C. 2:30 p.m. Boiling Springs, N.C. 4:00 p.m. Boiling Springs, N.C. 1:00 p.m. Boiling Springs, N.C.. 1:00 p.m. at Buies Creek, N.C. 1:00 p.m. at Greensboro, N.C. 12:00 p.m. Boiling Springs, N.C. 2:30 p.m. at Charlotte, N.C. TBA at Brunswick, Ga. 2:30 p.m. at Statesboro, Ga. 2:00 p.m. at Savannah, Ga. 11:00 a.m. at Clinton, S.C. 2:00 p.m. Boiling Springs, N.C. 2:00 p.m. Boiling Springs, N.C. 1:00 p.m. at Farmville, Va. 12:30 p.m. at Lynchburg, Va. 1:00 p.m. Boiling Springs, N.C. 2:00 p.m. at Asheville, N.C. 2:00 p.m.
Thu, Apr 14 Sat., Apr 18
2014 Big South Tournament *
Boiling Springs, N.C.
All Day
Home Matches In Bold * = Big South Conference matches All match times Eastern time and subject to change
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Mike Griffith
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Head Men’s Tennis Coach • Twelfth Season
Gardner-Webb head coach Mike Griffith is entering his twelfth year at the helm of the Runnin’ Bulldog men’s tennis program. Led by the senior trio of Roman Piftor, Adam Knutsson, and Matt Parker, Griffith’s 2012-13 Runnin’ Bulldogs garnered 9 wins, the most for GWU’s men’s tennis team since 2011. Griffith engineered a competitive group fueled by experienced senior leadership, and the team responded by rattling off five straight wins through February and into early March. Griffith’s feisty squad went 8-3 at home, a feat which included an improbable 6-1 win over Liberty on March 23. The Runnin’ Bulldogs were honored for their season by landing Knutsson on the Big South’s All-Conference Singles listing as well as landing sophomore Ernest Alberch on the League’s All-Academic Team. During the 2011-12 campaign, Griffith pioneered a senior-less Runnin’ Bulldog team during a season of growth. Despite posting a winless conference record (0-7) for the season as well as its lowest win total in the past five years (6-16), GWU posted upset wins on the road against SoCon frontrunner Davidson (5-2) as well as A-10 heavyweight Charlotte (4-3), showing signs of good things to come for the young squad.
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 Slesarev finished 3-2 in Big South action last 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 the men’s and women’s teams be named as an ITA All-Academic Team twice durIn 2010-11, Griffith lead GWU men’s tennis to a dual record of 11-12. The Runnin’ ing his time in Boiling Springs. GWU’s men’s team also won the ITA All-Academic Bulldogs entered the Big South Tournament as the No. 4 seed after posting an Team award in 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2004. The prestigious even 3-3 mark in Conference play. Despite exiting the Tournament early with a award is given to teams with a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher first-round loss to UNC Asheville, Coach Griffith’s Runnin’ Bulldogs experienced a and individuals with a GPA of 3.5 or higher while being a varsity letter winner. successful season which included a 4-3 road win over perennial MEAC front-runner In 2010, his men’s tennis team was awarded the Big South Conference Team South Carolina State. Sportsmanship Award. In 2009-10, Griffith guided the Runnin’ Bulldogs to a 12-14 overall record. The Along with his coaching resume, Griffith also boasts an accomplished tennis career. Runnin’ Bulldogs finshed in fifth place in the Big South regular season standings, yet While at Anderson Junior College, Griffith’s team won the 1986 National Championupset the fourth seeded Liberty Flames in the first round of the Big South Tourna- ship. After transferring to Winthrop, Griffith earned all-Big South Conference honors ment before falling to the top-seeded Radford Highlanders. in 1987 and 1988. 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 All-Conference honors in singles and doubles. Fellow senior Rafael Altmayer also earned Doubles All-Conference honors, as he partnered with Slesarev throughout the season. Griffith guided Gardner-Webb to a nine-win campaign during its inaugural season in the Big South Conference. The Runnin’ Bulldogs finished fourth in the regular season standings, but were upset by the fifth seeded Liberty Flames in the first round of the Big South Tournament.
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. Griffith also currently serves as the chairperson for the Big South Conference men’s tennis coaches committee. 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 In addition to the nine-win season, Griffith’s No. 1 player Evgeny Slesarev earned elementary school teacher for Gaston County Schools. The couple has an nine-year Big South Singles and Doubles All-Conference accolades. Slesarev also posted the old son, Carson.
Evgeny Slesarev Assistant Men’s Tennis Coach • Fourth Season
Evgeny Slesarev is enterising his fourth season as assistant coach for Gardner-Webb University’s men’s tennis program. 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.
Adam Knutsson Volunteer Assistant Men’s Tennis Coach • First Season
Adam Knutsson is enterising his first season as volunteer assistant coach for Gardner-Webb University’s men’s tennis program. From Gothenburg, Sweden, Knutsson was a four-year letter winner for Gardner-Webb and Head Coach Mike Griffith, completing his final season at GWU in 2012-2013. Knutsson was an invaluable member of Gardner-Webb’s men’s tennis team during his playing career, racking up over 30 singles wins. Knutsson versatility showed through during his playing time at GWU, as he saw significant time at both the No. 1 singles and doubles positions and was a flight champion at No. 3 doubles alongside Korhan Ates. Knutsson was named to both the Big South All-Conference Singles Team after holding down the No. 1 singles position during his final year as a Runnin’ Bulldog.
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Ernest Alberch
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5’11” • Junior • Torello, Spain
2013: Held down No. 4 singles for the Runnin’ Bulldogs during his sophomore season, forging a record of 12-5 at the position including a 5-2 mark in Big South play … Proved a major factor in GWU’s six match home win streak in midseason, going 5-0 in singles play and 6-0 in doubles play during that span … Went 9-9 in doubles play on the year, including an 8-3 mark at No. 2 doubles alongside Nikita Zverkov … Member of the 201213 Big South All-Academic Team 2012: Finished the season with a 7-13 record in singles play after seeing time at the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 singles positions ... Named Big South Men’s Tennis Freshman of the Week on February 8 ... Teamed with Matt Parker for a 9-8 doubles record on the season ... Duo scored a 9-7 win at No. 2 doubles in GWU’s 4-3 win at Charlotte ... Member of the 2011-12 Big South Presidential Honor Roll 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 2013: 2012: Career:
Singles 12-5 7-13 19-18
Doubles 9-9 10-11 19-20
Personal: Born May 31, 1992 in Torello, Spain ... Son of Jordi Alberch Serra and Montserrat Romeu Palou ... Majoring in Business Administration
Korhan Ates 5’10” • Senior • Istanbul, Turkey
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 ... Son of Yakup Ural and Raziye Ates
Singles 2013: 2012: 2011: Career:
Doubles
11-12 7-13
10-11
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Brendan Dempsey 5’10” • Junior • Dublin, Ireland
2013: Continued to be a force at the No. 5 and No. 6 singles positions for the Runnin’ Bulldogs after building a 12-5 record at those two positions on the year … Went 4-4 in singles play against Big South competition … Clinched the match for the Runnin’ Bulldogs against UNC Asheville with a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 6 singles … Won his No. 6 singles match against UNC in the season-opener at Chapel Hill, N.C. … Also filled an important role in doubles play, going 6-5 on the year predominantly at the No. 3 position ... Member of the 2012-13 Big South Presidential Honor Roll 2012: Scored a team-best 12 singles wins on the season after compiling a 12-6 singles record ... Held down the No. 6 position for much of the season, earning a record of 11-4 ... Came from behind to score a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 singles win in the 5-2 win over Wofford ... Also went 6-6 in doubles play, predominantly with fellow freshman Joao Poli ... Sealed the doubles point alongside Joao Poli with a 9-7 win at No. 3 in GWU’s 5-2 home win over Wofford ... Member of the 2011-12 Big South Presidential Honor Roll 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 2013: 2012: Career:
Singles 12-5 12-6 24-11
Doubles 6-5 6-6 12-11
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Benjamin Kaszás 6’1” • Sophomore • Budapest, Hungary • Ferenc Csik
2013: Showed flashes of a bright future playing predominantly at No. 2 singles as a freshman … Went 6-13 in singles play on the year, including a 5-5 mark at No. 2 singles … Went 1-7 in Big South singles matches … Proved to be a valuable contributor in doubles as well … Played at all three doubles positions during the year … Went 4-2 alongside Brendan Dempsey at No. 3 doubles Before Gardner-Webb: Attended Ferenc Csik high school prior to attending GWU ... Member of the Hungarian National Junior Team from 2007 - 2012 ... Earned a No. 59 ranking on the Tennis Europe (TE) B16 rankings ... Ranked second among Hungarian junior players ... Reached the semifinals in the 2010 Cakovec tournament in Croatia ... Placed 3rd in singles at both the 2009 and 2011 Summer and Junior National Championships respectively ... Also a skilled doubles player ... Won the Radenci Cup for doubles play in 2011 (ITF) ... Placed first in doubles a the 2010 Summer Junior National Championships Personal: Born August 5, 1994 in Budapest, Hungary
2013: Career:
Singles 6-13 6-13
Doubles 6-12 6-12
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Jonathan Walker
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5’11” • Sophomore • Elkin, N.C. • Faith Christian School
2013: Went 1-0 in singles play on the year … Won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 5 singles to help GWU to a home win over Brevard … Played at No. 3 doubles alongside Joao Poli in the win over Texas Pan-American ... Member of the 201213 Big South Presidential Honor Roll High School: Competed for Faith Christian School (Roanoke, Va.) under the direction of George and Johan Kriek ... Also played at Johnan Kriek Tennis Academy ... Won 17 singles championships in USTA tournaments ... Also earned 4 doubles championships during USTA play ... Honors student ... Eagle Scout Personal: Born December 21, 1993 in Elkin, N.C. ... Son of Stephen and Linda Walker ... Has one sister (Camille, 13) ... Intends to major in nursing.
2013: Career:
Singles 1-0 1-0
Doubles 0-2 0-2
Nikita Zverkov 6’0” • Sophomore • Moscow, Russia
2013: Stepped in as a freshman to make an immediate impact in both singles play (9-3 overall) and doubles play (11-7) … Led GWU in singles winning percentage at 75% … Went 4-3 in singles play against Big South competition … Ended the season on a three-match singles win streak … Teamed with Ernest Alberch to go 8-3 in doubles play, predominantly at the No. 2 spot … Clinched against Longwood, winning 7-6 (3), 2-6, 7-5 at No. 6 singles ... Member of the 2012-13 Big South Presidential Honor Roll Before Gardner-Webb: Earned a top 20 ranking for doubles in his native Russia ... Also scored a top 600 World 18’s ranking ... Earned an ITF ranking of 565 among junior tennis players Personal: Born January 29, 1995 in Moscow, Russia ... Son of Svetlana Zverkova and Yury Omlechenko ... Plans to major in Economics or Finance
2013: Career:
Singles 9-3 9-3
Doubles 11-7 11-7
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Pepe Batalla
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5’8” • Freshman • Barcelona, Spain
Prior to Gardner-Webb: Enjoyed successful career in Juniors competition in Spain ... Competitive player who figures to contribute in both singles and doubles play for the Runnin’ Bulldogs immediately Personal: From Barcelona, Spain
Paul Hogan 6’5” • Freshman • Lenoir, N.C.
Nicholas Lofrumento 5’9” • Freshman • Cocoa Beach, Fla. • Cocoa Beach H.S.
Prior to GWU: Played at Cocoa Beach (Fla.) H.S. ... Earned First Team All-Conference status in 2012 ... Rated as a two-star recruit by tennisrecruiting.net ... Reached the quarterfinals in singles play at Florida 2A State High School Championships
Tyler Macy 5’9” • Freshman • Elkin, N.C. • Elkin H.S.
Prior to GWU: Competed at Elkin (N.C.) H.S. ... Helped turn around the men’s tennis program at Elkin, advancing to the finals of the North Carolina 1A State Championships as a freshman and sophomore prior to winning his first state title as a junior ... Voted Mountain Valley Athletic Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Year as a junior ... North Carolina 1A State Champion in doubles play as a senior
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A.J. Stillwell
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6’0” • Freshman • Wilmington, N.C. • Laney H.S.
Prior to GWU: Played at Laney (Wilmington, N.C.) H.S. ... East Regional singles champion in 2012 ... Led Laney to a quarterfinals appearance at the North Carolina 4A State High School Championships ... Earned a No. 20 ranking in the state of North Carolina as a three-star recruit (tennisrecruiting.net)
Nikita Zverkov Ernest Alberch
Brendan Dempsey
A Closer Look at:
Sophomore Benjamin Kaszรกs
Benjamin Kaszรกs is slated to play at No. 1 singles for GWU this year
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Matt Parker
All-Time Letterwinners
-AAbrahao, Daniel - 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Alberch, Ernest - 2012, 2013 Altmayer, Rafael - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Ates, Korhan - 2011, 2012 -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 -D-
Dempsey, Brendan - 2012, 2013 Dunlap, Blake - 2012 -EEdmonds, Bryan - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Ellis, Kim - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 -FFerrier, Taylor - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 -HHerrock, Matthew - 2010 -KKaszรกs, Benjamin - 2013 Kenny, William - 2010 Knutsson-Sundblad - 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 -LLawlor, Jamie - 2008, 2009 -MMartin, Stephen - 2012 -OOsborne, Michael - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 -PParker, Matthew - 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Piftor, Roman - 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Pinzon, Miguel - 2009 Phillip, Kern - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Poli, Joao - 2012, 2013 Proctor, Eric - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
-Q-
Quijano, 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 -WWalker, Jonathan - 2013 Wadwani, Amit - 2002 Weening, Alexander - 2002 -ZZverkov, Nikita - 2013
Roman Piftor
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GWU Administration Dr. A. Frank Bonner PRESIDENT Dr. A. Frank Bonner, in his eighth year as 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.
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Chuck Burch V.P. FOR ATHLETICS Gardner-Webb alumnus Chuck Burch is in his 16th 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. 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 freshman soccer player at High Point University.
Campus Life 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.
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
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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.)