Rangers Insider: Winter 2017-18

Insider

A New Era A Look atLook Centre Intercollegiate Athletics Department An Inside at College’s the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Athletics Spring 2017 Winter 2017-18

The New Faces On Aug. 1, I began my tenure as the seventh Director of Athletics in the history of UW-Parkside. It is an honor to lead this athletics department into a new era, and I’m excited about the opportunity to have an impact on our student-athletes, the University, and the community.

I most recently worked at my alma mater, Centre College (Ky.), and I also have worked previously at the University of South Carolina-Aiken, the University of Central Florida, and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Each of these experiences will prove valuable in my role at Parkside.

It has had an exciting and eventful first few months on staff at Parkside, highlighted by the announcement that the institution will be joining the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference beginning in 2018-19. We have also spent time hiring key positions, and we were excited to welcome Associate AD Wendy Wilson, Assistant AD Sean Daniels, and head wrestling coach Corey VanGroll ‘09 to our staff.

I have been continually impressed by the resiliency, hard work, and talent of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff. In and out of competition, our studentathletes are amazing representatives of our athletics department.

Wendy Wilson Associate AD/Compliance

I welcome you to regularly visit ParksideRangers.com to learn more about our student-athletes, teams, and initiatives. As we move forward, we are excited to engage our alumni, supporters, and community and tell you the story of Ranger Athletics!

Go Rangers!

Andrew Gavin Director of Athletics

Sean Daniels

Assistant AD/Communications

#RangerIMPACT Inspire Others Mindful of Mission Positivity, Progress, and People Appreciation of Differences Commitment to Community Telling Our Story

Corey VanGroll ‘09 Head Wrestling Coach

The New League The University of Wisconsin-Parkside will join the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) as a full member in 2018-19, Chancellor Deborah L. Ford and Director of Athletics Andrew Gavin announced to the Ranger student-athletes on Monday, Sept. 25, in conjunction with GLIAC Commissioner Kris Dunbar.

The move became official when University officials accepted an invitation from Dunbar and Dr. Donald Bachand, the President of Saginaw Valley State University and the chair of the GLIAC Presidents Council. The invitation was extended with unanimous support from the GLIAC membership.

“As we embark on a new era of Ranger Athletics and prepare to celebrate 50 years as a University, what an incredible opportunity to join the nation’s premier Division II conference in 2018-19,” Gavin said. “As a conference committed to student success in and out of competition, the values of GLIAC and its membership align closely with the values of UW-Parkside and our athletics department.”

UW-Parkside will officially enter the GLIAC on July 1, 2018, and will immediately enjoy complete membership rights, including eligibility to participate in postseason tournaments and championships and full voting rights.

“UW-Parkside is a top notch institution with outstanding leadership,” Dunbar said. “The Ranger teams have had proven success in the past and can continue those traditions in the GLIAC. They will be a strong addition to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.”

In 2018-19, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will feature 12 member institutions from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin sponsoring 21 NCAA Division II sports. Founded in 1972, the GLIAC has developed into one of the most nationally competitive athletic conferences, both on the field and in the classroom.

UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford described the new alignment with the GLIAC as a “great fit” for UW-Parkside student-athletes and coaches. “The GLIAC aligns with the values of UW-Parkside and our commitment to putting students first,” Ford said. “Our student-athletes and coaches are excited about this new opportunity. Competing with GLIAC institutions for many years, we have enjoyed the sportsmanship and spirit of those games, matches, and meets. We look forward to continuing that tradition.”

In 2016-17, three GLIAC schools won team national championships and seven different schools finished in the top-60 nationally in the Learfield Directors’ Cup. In the past two years, 59 student-athletes around the conference have garnered CoSIDA Academic All-American accolades.

Beginning in 2018-19, the conference will also consist of Ashland University, Davenport University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Technological University, Northern Michigan University, Northwood University, Purdue University Northwest, Saginaw Valley State University, and Wayne State University.

UW-Parkside sponsors 15 sports: baseball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, indoor/outdoor track and field, cross country, men’s golf, softball, volleyball and wrestling. The Rangers will compete as an independent in wrestling, which is no longer a GLIAC sponsored sport.

“UW-Parkside fits in well with our current members both in terms of high academic standards and a commitment to compete at the highest level of NCAA Division II athletics,” Bachand said. “After visiting with Chancellor Ford and others, we were convinced that UW-Parkside is serious about seeing their student-athletes succeed academically and in their chosen sport. We welcome them into the GLIAC and know their addition will strengthen an already strong conference.”

FOR THE LATEST NEWS ON PARKSIDE STUDENT-ATHLETES AND TEAMS, PLEASE VISIT PARKSIDERANGERS.COM

News and Notes

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1. Senior Armando Torres (Green Bay, Wis.) had an impressive final cross country season as a Ranger. The runner opened the campaign in a blazing way, blitzing the field at the Vic Godfrey Open on his way to victory. Torres finished his 8K home course in 25:04.03, more than 10 seconds ahead of Daniel Pederson from Marquette. The effort earned Torres conference and national runner of the week accolades. Torres also won at the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic, earned all-conference honors for the third time in his career, and advanced to the NCAA Championships. Torres will continue his senior campaign as a Ranger competing in track and field.

2. The UW-Parkside women’s soccer team has earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the 2016-17 year after the team posted a team grade point average of 3.33. “I’m very proud of the commitment these young women make to excelling in their coursework,” head coach Brittany Nikolic said. “As a team, they are setting a great example of how to be student-athletes.”

3. Sophomore Leki Prpa (Wind Lake, Wis.) was named second-team all-conference after a strong season on the men’s soccer team. Prpa led head coach Jason Zitzke’s team with 21 points and eight goals, while tying for the team-lead with five assists.

One of three Rangers to start all 16 games, Prpa played his best soccer late in the season. The sophomore scored five goals in the final two games, including tallying a hat trick in the team’s 10-1 win on Senior Day against William Jewell. Prpa finished the season ranked seventh in the conference in points and eighth in goals.

4. Under the direction of first-year head coach Dominic Yoder, the volleyball team finished its season with a 13-17 record overall and an 8-10 mark in league play. Yoder’s team finished the season with a 3-1 win on Senior Day, defeating the University of Southern Indiana on Nov. 11. In that match, senior Lexi Turek tallied 14 kills and did not have an error, registering a .609 hitting percentage. The Rangers will welcome back seven players that played 100 or more sets in 2017, including junior setter Katie Adams (Racine, Wis.). Adams also serves as the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.