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IT’S ABOUT COMPETING Impacting the lives of Leatherneck student-athletes
Dear Leatherneck Club members, Hello from Macomb, home of the Leathernecks! My name is Brooke Stittleburg and I am a senior volleyball student-athlete from Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Thank you for your tremendous support of WIU’s athletic programs. I hope that you realize the magnitude of your actions. Thanks to your support, I have been granted opportunities that I had dreamed about my whole childhood! It has always been a dream of mine to compete at the Division I level and I was able to achieve that dream at Western Illinois University because of generous people like you. I have been fortunate enough to experience the details of the student-athlete experience that make it exclusively Division I – the elite competition, the rigors of conference travel, the team meals, the Purple and Gold letter jacket that I proudly wear throughout campus, and the equipment to facilitate our constant improvement. I simply cannot thank you enough for these gifts and your role in helping my dreams come true. I trust that we are all like-minded in looking to the future to set new goals, to achieve higher things. In case you aren’t aware, Western Illinois University has big goals on the horizon and the athletics department shares those aspirations. We have recently added new turf to benefit many outdoor athletic teams and recently renovated our student-athlete academic services to better serve our teams in their aspirations of receiving a degree. I would invite you to come see the changes on campus – I think you will be impressed! However, there are always more improvements to make to facilities, more equipment needed, more resources to make the student-athlete experience at Western Illinois University the best it can possibly be!
I can assure you that my experience as a Leatherneck has been one I wouldn’t trade for anything but I want to leave Western Illinois better that when I arrived. I would ask you to please consider continuing your involvement and supporting to further raise the standards here at WIU. You can do this by renewing your membership to the Leatherneck Club for 2012-13. In closing, I want to thank you one last time. I am forever indebted to you for your gracious support. I sincerely hope someday that I can meet you in person – perhaps at a Leatherneck Club gathering – and properly thank you for your role in giving me the Division I experience I always dreamed about. GO ‘NECKS! Yours in Leatherneck pride, Brooke Stittleburg BS in Biology- Medical Sciences, Spring 2012 Western Illinois Leatherneck Volleyball 2008-2012 President of the WIU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Member of the NCAA Division I SAAC
What is the Leatherneck Club? The Leatherneck Club is the organization of fans, alumni, friends, parents—both current and past, and businesses that support Leatherneck athletics on an annual basis. Through donations, both in cash and gifts-in-kind, Club members are the ‘team behind our teams’, providing essential financial support to better Leatherneck athletics; financial support that the budget cannot fund but which are essential to be a Division I program. Such items include: • • • • • • • •
Capital facility projects Athletic equipment and apparel Championship, academic and athletic awards and memorabilia Sport-specific needs: - Lodging upgrades for men’s and women’s soccer while traveling to road games - Meal enhancements for men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s tennis while traveling to road games - Football communication headsets (approx. $10,000) Specialized computer software (program enhancement or recruiting) Broadcasting Department and production support for airing games (football, volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball) Pep Band fees at basketball games Hall of Fame and Induction Ceremony
FYI: FUNDING FACTS
For the 2012-13 school year, In-State Student Scholarships will cost $19,978 per student and Out-of-State Student Scholarships cost $23,803 per student. There are over 420 student athletes who receive some form of scholarship aid. As a point of reference, we offer some actual examples of annual operating expenses:
Baseball Baseballs: 40 dozen balls = $2,600 Men’s Basketball Team Meals for one road trip: $1,800 Women’s Basketball Bus trip to South Dakota State: $2,800 Football New Helmets: $275 each (avg 30 new per year) Men’s & Women’s Golf Golf balls: $2,300 for a year for each program Men’s Soccer Soccer balls: $1,000 Women’s Soccer Uniforms: $3,000 Softball Bats: $3,750 a year (approx. $250 each) Tennis Tennis balls: $1,500 minimum Volleyball Shoes: $1,800 Track and Field Track spikes: $6,000
State Appropriated Funds Student Fees Self-Generated Funds
2,129
$900,000
$900,000
1,600
1,340 465
Funding for Leatherneck Athletics Sources:
$240,000
1) state appropriated funds 2) student activity fees 3) self-generated funds
$1,250,000
Funding for Leatherneck athletics comes from three sources:
$1,500,000
It’s About Competing Our operating budget for 201112 was $10.8 million to fund 20 NCAA Division I sports. State funding has been reduced and will continue trending that way. Self-generated funds include guarantee games, like football playing Iowa State in 2012 or UNLV in 2013, endowments and annual funds generated via the Leatherneck Club. As you can see, your support is more important now than ever before.
$ Raised in FY 2012 Number of Donors Source: EADA Report, member institutions
IT’S ABOUT COMPETING means that we are losing the battles against our competition as far as the essentials in being a Division I institution: scholarships offered, equipment, travel, with facilities, with funding, in recruiting… and if we don’t change, we won’t stay where we are—we’ll fall further back. Illinois State will renovate their football stadium in the next 2-3 years. Eastern Illinois has raised their Panther Club revenues by 47% since 2010. Southern Illinois just completed a multi-million dollar stadium and arena renovation. We’re losing ground. You can help by rejoining the Club and helping improve Leatherneck athletics.
Annually, our programs have needs to improve facilities… improvements that are not — cannot — be budgeted. Our budgets are too tight for operating costs. So the Leatherneck Club has funded the following improvement in the past two (2) years: • • • • • • •
Women’s History display at Western Hall Sprinkler system at Al Boyer Stadium Baseball/Indoor batting cages at Western Hall Football Locker room displays/photos Softball/McKee Stadium outfield fence signage Volleyball/Brophy Hall signage, installation of scoreboards Softball /McKee Stadium sound system
EACH SPORT now has it’s own, separate fundraising account, which
assures no co-mingling of funds and hopefully gives you, as the donor, confidence that your gift is utilized by the sport YOU designated .
Academics & Athletic Achievements Leatherneck teams continue to embody the true spirit of the studentathlete, achieving in the classroom, in athletic competition, and in the community. “The Leatherneck Club has helped the Track & Field team by assisting us in purchasing equipment, such as hammers and shot puts, so we have the equipment to practice and compete at an elite level. Thank you for all of your help!�
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Jenna Verity
Graduating May 2012 Schaumburg, IL Rhodes Scholar Finalist 2012
The 2010-11 Summit League Honor Roll (3.0 GPA) The current year’s Honor Roll is announced in the summer.
Baseball
Beau Below Dan Dispensa Dustin Hunter Bryan Jordan Dan Marcuzzo Travis Pedersen Philip Tolman
Men’s Basketball *Arsenio Mims Abdou Niang Emeka Okafor
Women’s Basketball *Jackie Barton Anne Borgertpoepping *Rachel Evans *Rebecca Henricson Christina Jones Jackie Rieger *Sadie Webb
Men’s Golf *Carson Baugher *Dan Bidle *Seth Brannan
Ben Kilborn Peter McKinzie Kurt Slattery
Women’s Golf *Alexa Arent Emily Brink *Claire Gursh *Samantha Hainline Nerissa Hetzel Kristen Palmer Tara Peterman *Kristi Tschudin *Kelsea Visalli
Softball *Colleen Biebel Anna Copeland Hannah Frenell *Beth Golitko Emma Jarrell Bria Jones *Julia Katsaros Megan Kelly *Nikki Marinec Kelsey Michelini Kassandra Moore Alex Pflieger
*Michelle Prieto Monica Rondon *Erin Schlotfeldt *Ryleigh Sears
Men’s Swimming *Josh Davis Jack Killheffer Bart Pienkowski *Cory Randolph David Rilott
Women’s Swimming Allison Calewarts *Molly Carrignan *Alayna Colley Brianna Eizenga *Shawn Fitzpatrick Jaime Grau Katie Mann Jessia Schnaiter
Men’s Tennis *Alex Buceta *Jeff Cote Francisco Ortiz Ben Yue
Women’s Tennis *Kara Chicoine Jill Furlong *Marcela Brandao *Melissa Kaufmann Madison Zimmerman
Men’s Track/ Cross Country
*Tyler Buckles Michael Crabtree *Jamison Davis Garrett DeGross Matt Drendel *Zach Glasebrook Michael Hemming *Matt Leal *Jeff Liles *Chase Marlow Nathaniel Marshall Chris Matthews *Mike McGraw Jacob Rowell Aaron Russo Brayden Sherrick Jared Summers Jeff Veal
Zach Wiedeman Michael Castel Trevor Holm Mark Holt *Andrew Hood
*Megan Wyffels
Women’s Soccer
Kristin Becker *Amy Bennett *Sarah Blaase Women’s Track/ Chrissy Campbell Cross Country *Katie Condon Lindsay Condon Anne Borgertpoepping Abby Davis Miranda Brockman *Amber Davis *Amy Byers *Lauren DeWolf *Carianna Cottone *Miranda Graham *Julie Dietsch *Sarah Hall *Danielle Ehredt *Taylor Henning *Mackenzie Gray Kellie Julius *Lizzy Jones *Victoria Kappel Nikki Klier *Kristin Kuhar *Chelsea Lynes Lindsey Langer *Nichole Manning *Laura Lins Breanna Moore *Jennika Myers *Jessica Ortega Nora Potempa Izzy Roy Trisha Quinn Lydia Smith Iisszzsttadda “Icy” Snoddy *Gina Scaffidi *Jordan Spaciel Alicia Thurston *Hannah Van *Jenna Verity *Sarah Wright Alexa Williams
Men’s Soccer Aaron Appel Charlie Bales Nathan Bruinsma Alexis Dominguez *Daniel Lewis *Ebenezer Mengistu *Andy Ryan *Aaron Winkelmann
Volleyball *Cait Egan Sarah Fetter Samantha Fournier Alyssa Holum *Katie Hosteng Bailey Kaloupek *Ann Miller Bridget Murphy *Heather Smith *Brooke Stittleburg *Megan Toczek *Designates a Distinguished Scholar honoree
The 2010 Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll (3.0 GPA) The current year’s Honor Roll is announced in the summer.
Football
Matt Barr Andre Boney Chris Boone Ryan Carleton Bryan Carroll Dominick Corsiglia Keith Enderlein Bryce Flowers Josh Gabelmann Kyle Glazier Mike Harmon Drew Helt Myers Hendrickson Jimmy Holtschlag Mason Howington Zach Konstanzer Brandon Kreczmer Wil Lunt Kevin Palermo Larry Patterson
Nate Piel Sam Power Cody Reardon Rick Richardson Carter Ridenour Luke Riley Kyle Robiskie Lito Senatus Pat Smith Jordan Valle Victor Visoky Jamal Wilmore
Kevin Palermo
BA 2012 MS 2014 West Chicago, IL
“Game day wouldn’t be the same without the Leatherneck Club and our fans. You could feel and see the Leatherneck pride at home and away games in every sport, and that makes playing even more special.”
2011 Athletic Achievements 2011 Softball
2011 Baseball
• The Fighting Leatherneck softball squad finished the 2011 season with a 19-27 record overall, and a 14-10 Summit League mark, finishing fifth, just missing out on a Summit League Tournament bid. • Western Illinois senior catcher/designated player Erin Schlotfeldt was named to the District V Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District team. Schlotfeldt had previously been recognized for her accomplishments by being named as a Summit League Academic All-League Selection and was an NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete during her sophomore season. • Western Illinois had four players named as All-Summit League Softball selections, including: junior infielder Jamie Goss, senior catcher Nikki Marinec and senior catcher/designated player Erin Schlotfeldt were each named as First Team AllLeague selections while senior outfielder Colleen Biebel was named as a Second Team All-League selection. • The Western Illinois Softball team was recognized by the NCAA for its performance in the classroom when it was awarded with the NCAA Public Recognition Award. The award is given annually to teams scoring in the top-10 percent of the Academic Progress Rate (APR) and is based on a team’s multi-year performance in the APR reports. • The Fighting Leatherneck softball squad received the Summit League’s 2010-11 Team Academic Achievement Award. The award, given in each of the conference’s 19 sports, is based on the percentage of list-eligible student athletes. The Fighting Leatherneck softball (55 percent) program had the highest percentage of their eligible student-athletes named to the Commissioner’s List.
• The Fighting Leatherneck baseball team finished fourth in the Summit League in 2011, qualifying for the Summit League Tournament with a 21-38 overall record, 13-15 in the Summit League. • Junior first baseman Tom Lilja was named to The Summit League 2011 All-Tournament Team. The honor follows an All-League Second Team selection prior to the tournament. During the two tournament games for Western Illinois, Lilja hit .500 (3-for-6) with an RBI, walk and run scored. • Three Leathernecks earned AllLeague honors in 2011. Western Illinois members named to the 2010-11 All-League Second Team included: junior Tom Lilja, senior Bryan Jordan and senior John Koszulinski. Bryan Jordan was also named Summit League Player of the Week on March 28. • Junior Matt Igara earned Papa John’s Student-Athlete of the Week (March 21) and was named Summit League Player of the Month in March. • The Fighting Leatherneck baseball squad had
seven players named to the 2011 Summit League Winter/ Spring Academic All-League Team, including: Beau Below, Dan Dispensa, Dustin Hunter, Bryan Jordan, Dan Marcuzzo, Travis Pedersen and Philip Tolman. • The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Leatherneck right-hander Garrett Bolt in the 23rd round (704th overall) during day two of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft. • Leatherneck signee Tyler Farrell was selected by the New York Yankees in the 43rd round (1,319th overall) during the final day of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Farrell collected a 7-1 record during his senior season with 0.94 ERA. He tossed 52 innings and struck out 93 hitters while only issuing 21 walks at Galeburg High School. • Former Western Illinois left-hander Austin Brough signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on June 21 (assigned to the GCL Phillies). Brought spent three seasons (2008-10) wearing the Purple & Gold and made 49 appearances including 12 starts and tossed 107.1 innings.
2011 Women’s Golf • The Fighting Leatherneck women’s golf team turned in a runner-up finish—the best in WIU history—at the Summit League Championships in Primm, Nevada. • Senior Tara Peterman was named to the Summit League Second Team. Over the 2010-11 season, Peterman collected one ‘top 20’ finish, two ‘top 10’ finishes and five ‘top 5’ finishes. • Tara Peterman was also named to the Summit League AllTournament team honors after she finished fourth place at the Summit League Championships. • Nine golfers from the women’s side were named to the 2010-
11 Summit League Winter/Spring Academic All-League Team. Those golfers included: sophomore Alexa Arent, junior Emily Brink, senior Claire Gursh, junior Samantha Hainline, redshirt junior Nerissa Hetzel, junior Kristen Palmer, senior Tara Peterman, freshman Kristi Tschudin and sophomore Kelsea Visalli.
2011 Men’s Golf • The Summit League announced its 2010-11 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) officers and senior golfer Tim Harwood was voted as the League’s SAAC President. • Andrew Godfrey was named Summit League ‘Player of the Week’ for his performance in the Beu/Mussatto Invitational in Macomb, Ill. • Godfrey carded a 143 (69, 74) and took first place and helped the Leathernecks win their home tournament for the sixth time in seven years. • Six golfers from the men’s side were named to the 201011 Summit League Winter/Spring Academic All-League Team. Names on the list included: redshirt freshman Carson Baugher, freshman Dan Bidle, junior Seth Brannan, sophomore Ben Kilborn, freshman Peter McKenzie and junior Kurt Slattery.
2011 Men’s Tennis • The Leatherneck Men’s team went 4-2 in Summit League play and earned the No. 2 seed in the league tournament during the 2011 Spring season. • Western Illinois sophomore Patrick Hammers was named The Summit League Men’s Tennis “Player of the Week” after helping the Fighting Leathernecks to a 3-0 start in league play. • Western Illinois Men’s Tennis players Jeff Cote and Patrick
Hammers were named All-Summit League selections. Cote finished 2011 with a 9-10 overall record at the No. 1 singles spot and was 3-2 against league opponents, while Hammers was 5-1 against league opponents while playing at No. 3 singles. He was 9-12 on the season but went 8-2 after moving from the No. 2 spot early in the year. • Western Illinois head men’s and women’s tennis coach Chris Kane was elected Executive Vice President of the Middle Illinois Tennis Association (MITA). Kane will also serve on the MITA’s Board of Directors.
2011 Women’s Tennis • The Fighting Leathernecks finished the year 3-18 overall and 1-7 in Summit League play. Western Illinois picked up a league victory in its final conference cluster of the season when it defeated Centenary, 4-0. • Western Illinois sophomore women’s tennis player Jill Furlong was named as the Papa John’s Scholar Athlete of the Week on April 11. • Women’s tennis freshman Kara Chicoine was one of 29 Western Illinois student-athletes that finished the 2011 spring semester with a 4.0 grade point average.
2011 Track & Field • Western’s men and women track and field teams finished the indoor season at the University of Iowa for the Iowa Invitational. The men finished the 2010-11 indoor season in seventh place with 36.5 points, while the women’s indoor team also finished seventh 35.5 points. The men and women finished the 2011 outdoor season at the Wisconsin’s Twilight Invitational. The men finished sixth with 53.5 points, while the
women took fifth place with 55 points. • The 2010-11 women’s track and field team received The Summit League’s Team Achievement Award (52 percent of eligible student-athletes named to the Commissioner’s List). • Senior Nikki Klier broke her own 400-meter dash school record. Klier was the top seed of the women’s 400-meter dash and captured her first conference title with a time of 55.52. It is the best flat track performance in program history and breaks Klier’s old record of 55.97 set at the 2009 Summit League Indoor Championships. • Junior Jason Crisman was the top seed of the men’s shot put and recorded the best qualifying mark (55-3) on his way to the finals. In the finals, Crisman set a personal-best and captured his second straight conference title with a throw of 57-9.75. The performance is the third best in program history and easily surpasses Crisman’s previous best of 55-06.25 set earlier this season at the Illinois State Invitational (Jan. 22). • Earning 2010-11 Indoor All-Summit League Team honors was Nikki Klier, Jason Crisman, Nichole Manning and Jamario Taylor. • Senior Nikki Klier, junior Jason Crisman, junior Nichole Manning, sophomore Chelsea Lynes and junior Dana LaRue were all named to the 2010-11 Outdoor All-Summit League team. • Six Western Illinois track and field athletes were named Papa John’s Scholar Athlete of the Week this past season. Those athletes included: junior Amy Byers, freshman Breanna Moore, junior Nichole Manning, senior Nikki Klier, sophomore Matt Leal and junior Jason Crisman. • Nine members of the 2010-11 track and field teams were
named to The Summit League Winter/Spring Academic AllLeague Team. Those included were: Nikki Klier, Amy Byers, Nichole Manning, Chelsea Lynes, Jenna Verity, Michael Hemming, Matt Leal, Jason Crisman and Breanna Moore. • Six Leatherneck track and field athletes were named to the 2010-11 Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence, including, Nikki Klier, Amy Byers, Nichole Manning, Chelsea Lynes, Jenna Verity, Michael Hemming and Matt Leal. • Three Leatherneck track and field athletes were named The Summit League Track Athlete of the Week during the 201011 season. Those athletes included Michael Hemming, Jason Crisman and Nichole Manning. • Michael Hemming earned honors on Dec. 14 after recording two top-three finishes, including a league-best time, at the Holiday Preview at Iowa State on Friday (Dec. 10). Hemming finished third in the 800 meter run with a personal best time of 1:57.75, the fastest league time last season. Hemming was also a part of the second place 4x400 relay team with a time of 3:25.45. • Jason Crisman earned his first career Outdoor Athlete of the Week award on April 26 after recording league-best throws in the shot put and the discus at the Musco Twilight XII (April 23). He posted a second-place finish in the shot put with a career-best toss of 55-7.75. Crisman also recorded a sixthplace finish in the discus with a personal-best throw of 165-8, over five feet farther than the second-best in the league. • Nichole Manning was named ‘Athlete of the Week’ on Feb. 22. Manning earned the award, the first of her career, after winning the Women’s Pole Vault at the Iowa Invitational on Friday, Feb. 18. Manning won the event with a height of 1111.75 in her lone appearance this past season, which ranks
as The Summit League’s third best performance. Manning’s winning-mark is also the third highest in program history. • Senior Nikki Klier broke her own 400-meter dash school record (55.52) and junior Jason Crisman set a personal-best (57-9.75) in the men’s shot put as both captured conference titles on the final day of The Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships. • Four Fighting Leathernecks advanced to the NCAA Track and Field West Preliminary Rounds. Juniors Nichole Manning (women’s pole vault), Jason Crisman (men’s shot put), Dana LaRue (women’s shot put) (2010-11 Summit League Champion), and senior Nikki Klier (women’s 400-meter dash) made the trip to Historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon. • In her sixth pole vault victory of the season, Nichole Manning broke her own school record with a vault of 12-11.75 at Wisconsin’s Twilight Invitational on May 7.
2011 Football • The Leathernecks finished 2-9 overall and 1-7 in Missouri Valley Football Conference play in 2011. • Throughout the year, the Leathernecks earned three weekly MVFC honors. • Senior Terriun Crump was the lone Leatherneck to be named to the All-MVFC First Team. The Leathernecks also had two members named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team (Nikko Watson and Theon Dixon), one (Kevin Palermo) named Second Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference and three (Jimmy Holtschlag, Dwight Harris and Kieron James) were named Honorable Mention All-MVFC.
• In addition, Western Illinois had three athletes (Jimmy Holtchlag, Myers Hendrickson and Kevin Palermo) named to the First Team MVFC All-Academic Team, one (Mike Harmon) named to the Second Team MVFC All-Academic Team and one (Jordan Valle) named to the Honorable Mention MVFC All-Academic Team. Holtschlag and Palermo were named to the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team. Holtschlag was a Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District pick and was on the ballot for Academic All-American. • Western Illinois as a team landed an Honorable Mention College Football Performance Award nine times throughout the season.
2011 Volleyball • Western Illinois finished 12-18 overall and 3-15 in Summit League play. • Bridget Murphy was named MVP of both the SIU-Edwardsville and Indiana State Drury Inn/ASICS Challenge tournaments. Kate Hostend and Megan Toczek were named to the Drury Inn/ASICS Challenge All-Tournament Team and Ann Miller was named to the SIU-Edwardsville All-Tournament Team. • Murphy was named Defensive Player of the Week in the Summit League twice in 2011. • Ann Miller was named to the Summit League All-Freshman Team. • Western Illinois hired April Hall as the head coach in February 2012.
2011 Women’s Soccer • Fighting Leatherneck women’s soccer finished 7-12 overall
and 1-8 in Summit League play in 2011. This was the first time in program history that Western Illinois did not have a member named All-Conference. • Victoria Kappel was named Summit League Defensive Player of the Week in September while Trisha Quinn grabbed Offensive Player of the Week honors in the same month. • Laura Lins was named the Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Award winner and was also Second Team Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District.
2011 Men’s Soccer • Western Illinois won both the regular season and Summit League Tournament in 2011 to earn the program’s fifth NCAA Tournament appearance. The Leathernecks finished 13-7-1 overall and 4-2 in Summit League play. The regular season title was the third under current head coach Dr. Eric Johnson. • Dr. Eric Johnson became the all-time winningest coach in Summit League history and was named Summit League Coach of the Year in 2011. • The Leathernecks had three athletes (Andy Ryan, Alexis Dominguez and Charlie Bales) named First Team All-Summit League. Joining the previous three were three selections to the Second Team All-Summit League (Nathan Bruinsma, Husref Jupic and Mariano Leo). Bales was named. • Charlie Bales was named Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and Summit League Tournament MVP. Joining Bales on the All-Tournament Team was Alexis Dominguez, Husref Jupic, Mariano Leo, and Alexis Dominguez. • Andy Ryan was named Defensive Player of the Week in the Summit League four times in 2011. Jupic earned an Offensive
Player of the Week award on 2011 as well. • Alexis Dominguez and Charlie Bales were each named to NSCAA All-Midwest Region Teams. Bales was selected to the Second Team, Dominguez to the Third Team.
2011 Cross Country • Western Illinois men’s cross country finished eighth at the Summit League Championships in 2011, the women finished 10th. • Michael Castel was named Second Team All-Summit League and also placed 76th out of 171 in the NCAA Midwest Regional. • NSCAA All-Midwest Region Teams. Bales was selected to the Second Team, Dominguez to the Third Team.
2011-2012 Swimming and Diving • Freshman Doug Ogilvie claimed the Summit League onemeter diving and the 3-meter diving title and also won Summit League Diver of the Week on three different occasions. • Leatherneck Swimming and Diving finished 6th on both the men’s and women’s side during the Summit League Championships. • Senior Jamie Grau and Ogilvie highlighted the 2011-2012 season for Western Illinois. Grau won Summit League Swimmer of the Week Honors during the week of December 20. • Ten Leathernecks cracked or moved up in the program’s top
10 times including sophomore Jon Bond who set a school record with a relay lead-off record in 4x100 backstroke relay.
2011-12 MEN’S BASKETBALL • The men’s basketball program secured the first-ever Division I postseason tournament berth by accepting a bid to the College Basketball Insiders Tournament. It marks the first time Western played in the postseason since the 1981 season (Division II). • Western’s victory total currently stands as the most since the 1997 team finished with 18 wins. This year’s winning record is the first in Leatherneck history since the 1998-99 squad finished 16-12. • Picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll, the Leathernecks tied for fourth in the final regular season Summit League standings. Western knocked off North Dakota State in the quarterfinal round for its first tournament win since 1999. After eliminating top-seed Oral Roberts in the semifinals, the Leathernecks dropped an overtime decision in the title game against South Dakota State. That title game appearance was the first for Western since 1997.
• Ceola Clark III became the first player in Summit League history to be named ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ twice. Clark was voted Second Team All-Summit League and to the AllTournament Team. • Junior Terell Parks also picked up all-league honors, selected to the Summit League All-Newcomer Team, Honorable Mention All-Summit League, and to the All-Tournament Team. • Freshman Obi Emegano was selected to the Summit League All-Newcomer Team. • Western played in numerous close games throughout the 2011-12 season - three overtime contests (two double-OT) and 13 games that were decided by five points or less.
2011-12 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL • Under first-year head coach JD Gravina, the Leatherneck women were picked to finish 10th in the Summit League preseason poll but finished tied for sixth (one game out of fifth place). • Western advanced to the Summit League Tournament semifinals for the second time in three years, thanks to an opening-round upset of second-seed Oral Roberts, 83-71. • Junior Saule Kontautaite was named Summit League ‘Newcomer of the Year’, the second straight year a Leatherneck received that award. • Senior Sadie Webb was chosen Second Team All-Summit League. She earned accolades for her work in the classroom when she was voted to the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District team. Webb was on the ballot for Academic AllAmerica honors. • Valencia Kelly turned in a stellar performance in the Summit League Tournament, and was voted to the All-Tournament Team. Kelly averaged 24 points in her two games.
“A s m e m b e r s o f t h e Leatherneck Club we are given the opportunity to interact with the student athletes at Western Illinois. We see first hand the hard work and dedication these young men and women put forth to improve their athletic abilities on a daily basis. All the time continuing their educational endeavors. For their efforts Western Illinois Athletics bring a great deal of recognition to the university as well as our community. For these reasons the Leatherneck Club is proud to be part of fund raising to enhance all athletic programs.”
Mr. Jerry Cremer
WIU Alum President, Leatherneck Club Advisory Board
Enjoy the Benefits of The Club! Join Now!
Tax deduction in support of Fighting Leatherneck athletics (per IRS guidelines) Leatherneck Club Insider eNewsletter & invitations to special events Game Program & Web Recognition Leatherneck Club Window Cling Leatherneck Club Membership Card(s) Priority Parking access for Football Year-long discount at WIU Bookstore (including on-line store!!) Invitation to Leatherneck Club hospitality events at football and basketball, and tailgating at baseball & softball. *Does not include President’s Tent for football (see Purple & Gold level for this benefit) Season-long Reserved Parking Space for Football in Leatherneck Club tailgating area and Basketball in Leatherneck Club premium parking area Invitation to President’s Tent at home football games, select basketball games. Premium Personalilzed Reserved Season-long Parking Space for Football and Basketball in Leatherneck Club tailgating area Sideline, court-side or field passes for one (1) home game at football, basketball or baseball/softball. Special Invitation to ‘Chalk Talks’ with coaching staffs Coaches & Athletic Director’s special events
Rocky’s Coaches’ AllPurple & Captain American Friends Circle Gold $10-99 $100-249 $250-599
VIP
MVP
President’s Club
$600-999 $1,000-2,999 $3,000-4,999 $5,000-9,999
$10,000+
GOLD GOLD PURPLE & GOLD PURPLE PURPLE PURPLE PURPLE PLATINUM
Ways to Give DIRECT GIFTS These are contributions through many forms. Checks, cash, credit card, or through an electronic funds transfer from the donor’s bank. These are the most common types of transactions that support Western Illinois Athletics.
MATCHING GIFTS Many companies have a matching gift program for contributions of employees. The Western Illinois University Foundation qualifies for most of these programs, and the member receives full credit for the total gift. To find out if your company participates in this type of program, see your company’s benefits administrator.
GIFTS – IN – KIND Members may help the athletic program by giving of a service or product that will assist the athletic department’s budget. The fair market value of gifts of personal property may be credited toward a member’s annual giving.
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GIFTS OF SECURITIES AND STOCK Gifts of securities are a way of making a contribution to the Western Illinois University Foundation. It is a donor’s advantage to give securities that have appreciated in value to earn a charitable deduction. The donor receives credit for the full market value based on the closing value on the date of the transaction.
PLANNED GIFTS Planned gifts such as bequests, insurance policies, charitable gift annuities, and real estate enable donors to support Western Illinois University, and in most cases, earn annual income and enjoy tax savings.
GIVING ONLINE Visit www.GoLeathernecks.com and click on the “Support Athletics” link to find out more.
NEW!
ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER [or EFT or automatic withdrawal] Contributing to the Leatherneck Club is as easy as a simple phone call to enroll in electronic funds transfer or automatic withdrawal. Simply call the Western Illinois Foundation office at (309) 298-1861. Three minutes, a few questions, and you’re enrolled. Thanks, in advance, for joining!
FAQs Q: Is my donation to the Leatherneck Club tax deductible? A: Yes, your donation to the Leatherneck Club is tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor when filing your return.
Q: Am I allowed to donate to multiple funds in the course of a year? A:
Yes, you can divide your donation between any one of our 21 fund categories and your contributions will still be counted as a total gift to Western Athletics. (i.e. $100 to Football, $250 to Basketball = Giving Level of $350) Donations to specific sports funds are applied to that fund’s operating expenses.
Q: When will I receive my parking pass? A: We will first mail passes in mid-August…season tickets. After August, we will mail parking passes as receive Leatherneck Club commitments, pledges and gifts. So, after August, when you send your pledge card in, you’ll receive your parking pass within a week of pledge processing.
Q: Is there a different parking pass for football and basketball? There used to be two (2) passes. A: There’s only one(1) pass for the entire year. We made that change in 2011 to be more cost-effective and user-friendly.
Q: What happens if I lose my parking pass during the year, or it rips or is damaged? A: Let us know and we’ll replace it ASAP. Either call (309) 298-2602 or email s-mcdonough@wiu.edu. We’ll take care of you.
You have the ability to spread your gift throughout the course of the year with monthly payments. You can do this by establishing an electronic funds transfer directly from your bank account to the Leatherneck Club, or you can have a debit or credit card charged each month. If you choose one of these options, please fill out and return the pledge form to indicate your commitment. Sample gifts and the affordable monthly cost for each pledge level: • • • • •
Coaches Circle Level----------------- ($100/12 payments = $8.33 Captain Level-------------------------------- ($300/12 payments = $25 All-American Level------------------($750/12 payments = $62.50 Purple & Gold Level----------($2,500/12 payments = $208.34 MVP------------------------------------ ($5,000/12 payments = $416.67
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• Men’s and Women’s Basketball hospitality room is located in the Hall of Fame Room in the northeast corner of Western Hall. Donors at the following levels can enjoy the pre-game/half-time socials: All-American, Purple & Gold, VIP, MVP and President’s Club. • Baseball hospitality tent is located down the third baseline. The Baseball hospitality tent will be available on select Saturday’s only. • Softball hospitality tent is located in deep right field. The Softball hospitality tent will be available on select Saturday’s only.
Important Dates:
The Leatherneck Club’s Mission:
June 1, 2012
Leatherneck Club Golf Classic
July 15, 2012
Deadline for Football Season ticket renewals
August 10, 2012
Football Season tickets and parking passes mailed
August 25, 2012
23rd Annual Purple & Gold Dinner/Auction
(Harry Mussatto Golf Course)
1037- 15, 2012 Deadline for Basketball Season September 1836ticket renewals
September 4410- 22, 2012 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony/ Homecoming Weekend
53175679March 2-5, 2013 9028
Summit League Men’s Basketball Tournament
March 2-5, 2013
Summit League Women’s Basketball Tournament
April 20, 2013
Spring Football game
May 11, 2013
Commencement/Graduation
December 15, 2012 Commencement/Fall Graduation
Join Now! t: (309) 298-2602
f: (309) 298-1960
www.facebook.com/pages/ Leatherneck Club
tickets: (309) 298-1190 www.twitter.com/LeatherneckClub
To directly support the overall mission and goals of the Western Illinois University Department of Athletics by generating the funds for program and coaching enhancements and for scholarships for studentathletes in 20 varsity sports. It strives to embrace and engage the most dedicated Leatherneck fans within the WIU community to further promote the passion and camaraderie that makes Western so unique.
“The Leatherneck Club is like our 6th man. We can’t win without you. You’ve provided me, my teammates, and all of our athletes at Western with the support that makes us feel like we’re Division I. We can compete with your help. I can’t say ‘thank you’ enough.” Ceola Clark III
Senior Gurnee, IL Only 2-time Summit League Defender of the Year in the history of the league