from the ATHLETIC director COVER STORY
A Football Goodbye
The Green and Gold tradition grows each year and with that growth comes an ever-increasing crop of impressive alumni. This years Hall of Fame class is no exception.
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W Week Events
Coach Ryan Kelley and his staff enter 2013 on the heels of a third consecutive postseason berth. The Warriors have their sights set on a GLIAC crown before making it back to the NCAA postseason.
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There were plenty of great acomplishments, records, honors and goals attained in 2012. Here is Wayne State Athletics Top 100 for the year.
WWW.WSUATHLETICS.COM
Softball took home the GLIAC tournament last year but now it’ll be up to a younger group to propel the team to its first College World Series appearance since 2010.
connect with the warriors
I attended a funeral for a Wayne State University football student-athlete. It was the second time in only two years that a like tragedy has impacted our athletic program. These are emotionally-wrenching experiences. Our sense of normalcy is shattered. The unexpected death of a 22 year old in our society is not only extreme, it contradicts the promise we see in the future in these young people. I did not know Serxho Guraleci like his teammates, coaches and classmates. By all accounts, he was affable, well-liked and displayed a caring heart and generosity that belied his age. His infectious smile and attitude could transform the mood of an individual…or a room of individuals. As Coach Winters remarked in his eulogy that day, “Serxho did not create relationships, he created friendships.” And he had a lot of them.
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Softball Facility Growth
By Rob Fournier Director of Athletics
Men’s Tennis & Golf Preview
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From the Director
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Academic Achievements
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Blanco and Clark
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Locker Rooms
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Garina and Lee
14 Donors
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Brian VanGorder
IBC Warrior Club
WARRIOR WITHIN Compiled and edited by the WSU Sports Information Office ROB FOURNIER JEFF WEISS JUSTIN ARBOGAST ADAM BOUTON LISA SEYMOUR
Director of Athletics Associate A.D./Media Relations Sports Information Graduate Intern Sports Information Intern Assistant Athletic Director
PRINTING Inland Press - Detroit, Mich. PHOTOS Mark Hicks (WestSide Photo), Ron Harper, Chuck Anderson, Justin Arbogast, and Tom Gorman
Although each culture has its symbolism to mark death, each share equally in its sorrow. In this case, its finality was a sharp contrast to the innocent exuberance, vitality and freedom of youth. That difficult contrast makes us pause and reflect. Mark Twain had a quote that I have always thought profound and over the years have more and more contemplated its significance. He once stated: “the two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Funerals provide a sober setting to contemplate that statement. We temporarily stop the clock to reflect back on a life lost and our own purpose. A time to examine priorities…and maybe to better define some others. Serxho Guraleci had a pretty good perspective on life. You felt that from his friends…but you knew it from his actions. There was a story told at his funeral how he had petitioned the Michigan High School Athletic
Association to “earn back” a year of high school football sacrificed when he was unable to perform effectively his first year in school after immigrating from Albania with his family. I thought about the consequence of that decision now that I have spent a “few years” in intercollegiate athletics, and a few more in a courtroom. The reaction of most to that resolution would have been to decry the ruling, claim an injustice and sought a more favorable ruling. Not Serxho. He took the verdict as a positive – instead of football he would have a year to better himself academically and improve his English. Despite his youth, he knew his future depended more on learning his new “native” language than on learning a playbook. Eventually he mastered both – becoming an All-Conference selection as a defensive lineman and earning honors on the Conference All-Academic Team. There is a lot of insight in that example – not only about Serxho, but in a way, about all of us. Abraham Lincoln once remarked about immigration, “that it did not so much matter where you come from in order to be an American, but what you believe in.” Ironically 160 years later we still debate immigration policy. Maybe the solution might be as simplistic as that axiom. Maybe it is exemplified in Serxho Guraleci. By all accounts, Serxho Guraleci brought an unvarnished exuberance each day to life and shared that with all those that he met. On the day that he died, Head Coach Paul Winters called a team meeting in the football locker room. It was a family gathering. A place to grieve, a time to comfort, a time to embrace, a time maybe to contemplate Mark Twain’s philosophical perspective. I won’t violate the trust of that meeting but I will tell you one lasting image for me that afternoon. After he spoke, Paul Winters asked if anyone wanted to say something about Serxho. One by one, player after player, be it from the suburbs or the City, black or white, from affluence or those sustained by less meager resources, many got up and talked about their friend. Some were emotional, some insightful, some good-natured…but all with love. In a society where we seek equality, fairness, and justice, those building blocks were all seated around a locker room that afternoon. And in the end, maybe, just maybe, a few found the answer to that question, why we were born.
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2013 Hall of fame inductees - blanco & clark medley team that finished eighth with a then school record time of 3:25.83.
Bruno Blanco was a three-year swimming letterwinner (2004-2007) for Wayne State University.
The native of Rio de Janiero, Brazil, was a 20-time First Team All-GLIAC swimmer earning the honor nine times as an individual and 11 times on relays.
He was a 19-time All-American in the pool earning nine First Team honors as well as 10 Honorable Mention accolades.
Blanco was a four-time individual champion at the GLIAC meet winning the 100 butterfly all three seasons, while also claiming the 200 butterfly title in 2005 in a time of 1:52.97. Each year he set the GLIAC conference meet record in the 100 fly with a senior time of 49.65.
Blanco recorded First Team All-America honors in the 100 fly all three years placing third as a senior after finishing sixth and eighth the two years prior. His 2007 time of 49.12 broke his own school record. He also earned six First Team All-America accolades as part of relays with four coming during his senior campaign. At the 2007 NCAA Championship meet, he swam the butterfly portion of the 200 medley relay (1:30.21) which came in under the previous national record (1:30.27), but was behind North Dakota’s first-place time of 1:29.86. Blanco also swam the butterfly leg of the 400 medley relay (3:19.86 - 3rd), which set the school record. He led off the 400 freestyle relay (3:04.59 6th), which also set a school record, and swam the second leg of the 200 freestyle relay (1:24.07 - 8th). Shannon (Clark) Maisano was a threeyear softball letterwinner (1991-93-94) at Wayne State, serving three seasons (199294) as a team captain. She began her collegiate career earning the 1991 GLIAC Freshman of the Year award as well as being voted to the All-GLIAC Second Team. Clark batted .337 in her rookie season with a team-leading 12 doubles, while playing in all 52 games. She was strong defensively recording a .983 fielding percentage, while leading the Tartars in fielding assists (81). In addition to leading the team in at bats, the second baseman had 14 walks to only 12 strikeouts.
Bruno Blanco, Swimming 2004-07 In 2006, Blanco earned two AllAmerican honors as part of school record setting relay teams. He swam the third leg of the 200 medley relay team that placed seventh in a then school record time of 1:32.9. He also swam the third portion of the 400
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He was a two-time Academic AllGLIAC recipient, along with being an Academic Honor Roll selection three different semesters.
Team All-GLIAC and Academic All-GLIAC accolades. Her 1993 total of 194 at bats was second in school history at that time, while her 15 doubles was tied-for-third at WSU. The 1993 Tartars, who finished the year with a 43-15 record, won the GLIAC tournament after tying for the regularseason title.
batting at .463 (31-for-67), while playing in all 18 games as WSU tied for the regularseason title with a 13-5 record. Overall, Clark batted .378 and finished second on the team in total bases (87), slugging percentage (.506) and stolen bases (9), while tying for the squad lead with 20 walks (to only 10 strikeouts).
As a senior, she led the GLIAC in league
During her collegiate career, Clark was a member of three GLIAC regular-season title teams (1992-94), two GLIAC tournament title squads (1993-94) and three NCAA tournament teams (1992-94). WSU went 149-73 (48-16 GLIAC) in her four seasons.
Clark, a team co-captain as a sophomore, played in the first seven games of 1992 before suffering a season-ending injury. The Romeo native returned to the lineup in 1993 as a team tri-captain and batted .335 with a team-leading five home runs, 37 RBI and 101 total bases. She set the WSU single-season mark with 131 fielding assists, while equaling the record for runs scored in a year with 45. In addition to being an NCAA All-Regional selection, Clark was voted to the NFCA All-America Third Team as well as to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team. She earned First
In addition, he was a member of three GLIAC relay championships. As a senior, he swam the butterfly portion of the first-place 200 medley relay (1:32.00) and 400 medley relay (3:24.08), both of which set WSU and GLIAC records. The 2006 GLIAC champion 200 medley relay squad had set the previous mark at 1:33.89.
Shannon Clark, Softball 1991-94
When she graduated, Clark ranked first in WSU history in walks (50) and stolen bases (23), second in runs scored (121), doubles (36), total bases (273), fielding assists (291) and home runs (10), and third in batting average (.346), hits (195), on-base percentage (.405) and slugging percentage (.485). She is a 1994 WSU graduate with a degree in biological sciences and later earned a pharmacy degree in 1998. Shannon is married to James Maisano and has three children, Michael, Dominic and Joseph.
2013 Hall of fame inductees - garina & lee a freshman in 2004, beating 2002 champion Kerry Walton of Notre Dame, 15-10, in title bout. Garina earned her second straight NCAA national title as a sophomore in 2005, defeating Notre Dame’s Amy Orlando in the championship bout, 15-6.
Ania (Anna) Garina was a four-year letterwinner in women’s fencing (200307) for the Green and Gold. She was a three-time national champion (200405, 2007) and a four-time First Team All-American.
As a junior she finished second in 2006 at NCAA Championships falling to Penn State’s Katarzyna Trzopek in title bout, 12-11.
Garina was the first three- Ania (Anna) Garina, time NCAA champion in Fencing women’s epee history and 2003-2007 only the fourth women in NCAA fencing history and first in women’s epee to win back-to-back NCAA Championships. In addition, she became the first WSU female fencer to win multiple NCAA championships. Garina, who was selected as the 2006-07 WSU Female StudentSteve Lee was a four-year football letterwinner (1988-91) at Wayne State earning all-conference accolades all four seasons. He was voted to the 1988 All-GLIAC Honorable Mention team, and finished second in GLIAC Freshman of the Year balloting after leading the conference in kickoff return average (32.0 - five for 160 yards, including an 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Grand Valley). He was also a threetime WSU Offensive Player of the Week award winner. The following season Lee earned Second Team All-GLIAC honors as well as the WSU Most Valuable Offensive Back award after leading the squad in rushing yards (594) and scoring (42 points). He scored three of his seven touchdowns in a 28-20 win over Valparaiso. As a junior, he was the WSU No. 35 Award recipient along with being selected to the All-MIFC First Team. Lee led the MIFC with an average
Garina captured the 2007 NCAA national title, beating Notre Dame’s Kelley Hurley, 15-13, in title bout.
Athlete of the Year, finished her career with 199 dual meet wins, the most of any female epeeist in WSU history.
A native of Kiev, Ukraine, Garina graduated from WSU in 2007 with an accounting degree.
She won the NCAA national title as of 172.7 all-purpose yards per game after placing third in the conference in kickoff returns (17 for 407 yards) and fifth in rushing with a career-best 904 yards in 10 games. In addition, Lee finished second on the squad with 35 receptions for 416 yards and four touchdowns to go along with his six rushing touchdowns. He led the
Tartars in scoring with 60 points. After being voted team captain for the 1991 campaign, Lee was named to the All-MIFC Second Team along with being recognized as WSU’s Most Valuable Offensive Back. He led the team in rushing yards (634), scoring (48 points) and all-purpose yards (951).
Lee played 37 games for the Green and Gold and finished his WSU career first in rushing yards (2,552) and all-purpose yards (4,161), and Steve Lee, second in total touchdowns (30), Football rushing touchdowns (25), carries 1988-91 (626) and career points (182). He had second-most kickoff return yards (921) and averaged 112.5 all-purpose yards per game for his career, along with totaling 66 receptions for 688 yards. After leading the team in rushing yards and touchdowns for three straight seasons (1989-91), Lee graduated from WSU with a degree in Art. SPRING 2013
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2013 hall of fame inductee - brian vangorder Brian VanGorder lettered four seasons in football (1977-80) at Wayne State, helping the Tartars to three consecutive runnerup finishes in the GLIAC for Hall of Fame coach Dick Lowry.
similar capacity at Western Illinois in 2000.
He later served as the head football coach at WSU for three seasons (1992-94) recording back-to-back winning seasons his final two years. As a player, VanGorder was a three-time All-GLIAC linebacker earning First Team accolades in both 1979 and 1980, after being named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention squad in 1978. He played in all 38 games during his career recording 335 tackles (192 solo, 143 assisted), which ranked second in school history when he graduated. After making 41 tackles, as a freshman, VanGorder led WSU with 136 tackles (75 solo and 61 assisted) in 1978, the thirdhighest total in school history at that time. The following season, he recorded a career-high three interceptions along with 85 tackles (54 solo, 31 assisted). He was voted team captain before his senior season helping first-year head coach Stephen Fickert’s squad to a winning record. VanGorder had three fumble recoveries in addition to making 73 tackles (41 solo, 32 assisted). After spending his first year out of college as an assistant coach at West Bloomfield High School, his alma mater, VanGorder spent the next seven years as a successful
Women’s Track Outlook Wayne State University officially welcomed a new sport in 2013, as women’s indoor track and field participated in its first competition in school history at Saginaw Valley State’s Doug Hansen Open on January 11th. In the short term, the Warriors are aiming to get their feet on the ground in a competitive conference that features national champion Grand Valley. In a few years, WSU hopes to be a contender for GLIAC and national titles. “That’s our goal, is to join that mix,” WSU women’s track and field coach Rick Cummins said. “When Rob (Fournier) announced track and field and we first started putting this thing together, you have to build a foundation and here that’s literal. But, Rome wasn’t built in a day. We had to build Wayne State cross country and we’ve become pretty decent and that
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Brian VanGorder, Football 1977-80
high school head coach in Florida earning Coach of the Year accolades all seven seasons. He complied a 52-16 record with his 1987 American Heritage School team being ranked No. 1 in the state of Florida. Following three years as defensive coordinator at Grand Valley, he returned to Detroit and led the Tartars to 16 wins, the most in a three-year period in a decade. He spent the next three years at Central Florida, first as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator then as the defensive coordinator. VanGorder was Central Michigan’s defensive coordinator in both 1998 and 1999, before serving in a didn’t happen overnight.” One of the first steps in laying groundwork for a competitive track and field team was finding two good assistant coaches, Cummins said. “We wanted to find coaches that had the knowledge of a head coach and that wanted to be here for the right reasons,” Cummins said. “Kirby Blackley and Kelly Ash are just awesome. Anybody that has watched them coach, they know what they are doing. They are rock solid with the X’s and O’s of their events. They are good communicators with the kids. They are people that are here for the right reasons.” The WSU track and field team is comprised of many women’s cross country athletes as well as several newcomers. Along with the abundance of distance runners, the Warriors have welcomed sprinters Kelsey Chapman, Britney Robinson and Hannah Williams to the team, thrower Erika Perry
In 2001, VanGorder was hired at the University of Georgia as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. During his first year as defensive coordinator in 2001, the Bulldogs allowed just 18.9 points per game, ended up 15th nationally in rushing defense and ranked 17th in scoring defense. The 2002 season saw VanGorder’s defense not only lead the SEC in scoring defense, but finished fourth nationally. The Bulldogs allowed less than 15 points per game during the season on their way to eventually winning the Sugar Bowl and finishing third in the final national poll. His defense was ranked 15th nationally in yards allowed per game (303.50). For his performance, VanGorder was named as the seventh recipient of the Valvoline Southern Sports Tonight Assistant Coach of the Year award. During his four years at Georgia, the Bulldogs won one SEC title, two SEC East Division Championships and three bowl games. He was also selected as the 2003 Broyles Award winner as the national assistant coach of the year. VanGorder then moved on to the professional ranks spending the 2005 campaign as the linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars before serving as the head coach at Georgia Southern in 2006. He returned to the NFL spending five years on the Atlanta Falcons staff, including four as defensive coordinator. VanGorder was the defensive coordinator at Auburn University in 2012. and pole vaulter Olivia Dixon. Wayne State finished third out of seven squads at the Baldwin-Wallace MidJanuary Meet, held in Berea Ohio on Jan. 18. WSU has several more meets and is ultimately gearing up for its first GLIAC Indoor Championship meet, which is Feb. 22-23 in Allendale, Mich. Cummins said that the goal is to create a complete track and field team in the near future. “We have some rock solid commitments for next year,” Cummins said. “We’re not going to bring in a whole team of freshman next year, but we’re going to bring in a lot of kids. “We want a team,” he reiterated. “We are going after everything. Everyone is good in this conference. Grand Valley is a national champion. We have to be pretty good then. We want to be top 10 in the nation in three or four years.”
baseball preview
Baseball Swings for the Fence in 2013
After a second-place finish in the GLIAC last season, coach Ryan Kelley and the Wayne State University baseball team have their sights set on the league crown for 2013. With the return of 18 letterwinners along with an exciting recruiting class it’s easy to see why expectations are so high. The 2012 campaign marked the third year in a row the Warriors advanced to the NCAA post season an honor that has grown to be an expectation over coach Kelley’s tenure. The pitching staff will be the foundation of this squad and with a deep league it will need to be. The overall depth of the staff is something that has Kelley excited. “The GLIAC has changed a bit with the addition of Walsh and Malone, you’re going Senior, to have a lot of games in a short period of time. Every Alex Pierse team will have to look at how they set up their rotation and we will need to utilize our pitching depth.” Senior pitchers and co-captains RHP Ethan Vasiliauskas and LHP Alex Pierse will headline that staff in 2013. The duo combined for 13 starts in 2012 and compiled a 13-4 overall record. Lefthander Greg Spiess and newcomer righty David Frederick will fill out the middle of the rotation with lefty Kyle Zimmerman making the trot from first base to round out the staff. Other pitchers looking to make solid contributions include veteran upperclassmen Jeff Sorenson, Kirk Stambaugh, Brock Bates, Christian Bilkovic and Keaton LeBlanc. Newcomers to the mound who look to make impacts include Jimmy Jackson, Jake Davis, Clayton Ruch, Brandyn Hall, Taylor Horn and Joey Hartfelder while redshirt freshman Alex Kinch looks to establish his collegiate athletic career. Commanding the staff will be senior catcher Brad Guenther. Kelley referred to Guenther as “our anchor, a leader and a true competitor.”
Eric Cunningham also looks to compete in 2012. Redshirt freshman Travis Rodery behind the plate while newcomers is ready to make an impact offensively and Spencer Church, Nate Gendron and Sean defensively while Chike Springer provides Winkelseth add depth at catcher. depth in the outfield. The Warriors also Zimmerman will spend welcome a youthful influx of outfield the majority of his time talent who will compete for innings for at first base where he the Green and Gold, including freshmen started 45 games last year Griffin Harms and Hank Van Ooyen. in addition to being a Leading the offensive attack will be member of the rotation. Guenther who also looks to take the role Redshirt sophomore Mark as the Warriors top baserunner. Koster Lepri will add a strong bat led the team in home runs and will be a from the right side of the source of power again in 2013. Gebara plate and patrol first base hit over .300 last year and has the goals when Zimmerman is on and potential to be an all-league player the mound. Second base according to Kelley. looks to be a competition The freshman class for WSU will be led between redshirt junior AJ Rodery, an outfielder, infielders Carrell Matos, redshirt freshman and Peake along with the right-hander Justin Sherman and Hartfelder, who Kelley said has the best freshman Jeremy Carrell. arm on the team. “Joey has a world of Senior Kenny Davis locked talent in his right shoulder but will need to down the shortstop develop into a pitcher rather than a pure position late last year and thrower.” will compete to start with The conference as a whole will be very Cameron Walker, who competitive. Unlike many other GLIAC returns from a sports, baseball works medical redshirt in 2012, and as one large league freshman Randy Kuzdak. Davis, without divisions. The a transfer from Grand Rapids 33 conference games Community College, hit .287 consist of three against last year while platooning each of the 11 other throughout the infield and GLIAC foes. Grand tied for the team lead with 10 Valley is the defending sacrifice bunts. Third base is still champion and Ashland is a wide open competition with a perennial power. Lake freshman Daniel Peake and Erie, who finished just Warrior quarterback Mickey behind Wayne State to Mohner as the current front take third in 2012, will runners for the final spot on the be looking to solidify infield. their program in its third The outfield will be filled out year in the league. Kelley daily with varying and talented also acknowledged the depth led by Kasey Koster. The talent at Saginaw Valley redshirt senior finished tied for and Northwood while third in the GLIAC in home runs also noting that Hillsdale (6), fifth in slugging (.519), has a great recruiting Sophomore, tied-for-eighth in doubles (10) class hitting the field. Kyle Zimmerman and ninth in runs batted in (33). Redshirt junior Chris Gebara was a 38-game starter in right field and hit .328 with 28 RBI
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academic achievements GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team (Cumulative GPA 3.5+) Men’s Cross Country Nick Culbertson, Nicholas Jackson and Doug Mack Women’s Cross Country Chelsie Fuller, Samantha Kaufman and Olivia Kwiatkowski Football Sean McCarthy, Mickey Mohner, Steve O’Shell, Chet Privett, Stefan Terleckyj, Nate Theaker, Nick Thomas, Ben Walker and Ethan Walsh Golf Tyler Haksluoto & Tyler LaSerra GLIAC NEWS ›› Wayne State senior student-athletes Mickey Mohner and Nick Thomas were announced as recipients of the Fall 2012 Meijer Commissioner’s Award on January 19th by the GLIAC. The Meijer awards are issued after the Fall, Winter and Spring seasons and highlight six female and six male athletes that excel in both the classroom and on the field of play. Mohner and Thomas were two of the four football players selected. Mohner, a quarterback who made 44 career starts, was a four-time Academic All-GLIAC selection. He finished his career as the Wayne State leader in passing yards (7,287), passing touchdowns (55), completions (537), attempts (961) and passing efficiency rating (131.2). Mohner was named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll five times as well as the Coach’s Honor roll twice. He
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Women’s Tennis Anne Li Briand and Tanya Joseph Volleyball Nicole Arenda, Kristen Bulkiewicz, Jessica DeLeeuw, Jamie Goryca, Madie Kent and Julie Sanders GLIAC All-Academic Team (Cumulative GPA 3.0-3.49) Women’s Cross Country Rachel Bandrow, Amanda Brewer and Kayla Gagnon Golf Jafar Dada, Reid Dean, Robert Favaro, Austin Hill, Dillon Horn and Alex LaSerra
Mickey Mohner
Nick Thomas
club 38 Football Zak Bielecki, Thom Box, Kevin Buford-Wilson, Pat Cecile, Steve Conway, Moe Davenport, Serxho Guraleci, Kaunda Hancock, Mike Komor, Tim MacLean, Andrew Matt, Austin Nelson, Michael Pack, Carl Roscoe, Mike Sawchuk, Will Wheat and Jeff Williams Men’s Cross Country Phil Baldick and Jason Smith Women’s Tennis Jessica Kruczek and Yahsha Moore Volleyball Cydney Biessel, Carlee Hunt and Katarzyna Sak graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in May 2012 and is currently enrolled in the master’s program at WSU. He maintains a 3.83 grade point average. Thomas also recently wrapped up his Warrior career as a middle linebacker, where he played in 37 games (26 starts). He is a two-time Second-Team All-GLIAC selection and four-time Academic All-GLIAC honoree. On the field, he finished with 267 tackles (133-134), which includes 28.5 tackles for a loss. Thomas recorded nine sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and three pass break-ups. Thomas, who was named to the Athletic Directors Honor Roll all eight semesters as an undergraduate, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance honors in May 2012 and is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administration. He has a 3.65 grade point average.
W Week 2013 Event Calendar Saturday, April 13 – W Day 10:00AM – Brunch Multipurpose Indoor Facility 12:00PM – Spring Football Game 12:00PM – Spring Volleyball Tournament 1:00PM – Softball vs. GVSU – Comcast…Strike Out Cancer Monday, April 15th – Movie Night at Emagine Theatre Wednesday, April 17th – Health Fair at MHRFC Thursday, April 18th – Academic Recognition Luncheon Friday, April 19th – Basic Needs Drive Handout
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top 100
top 100
TOP 100 ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 2012
1. The women’s swimming and diving team won the 2012 NCAA National Championship. It was the first national championship by any WSU program since 1989. WSU won four individual and four relay national titles, and broke seven school records over the four-day meet in Mansfield,Texas. 2. Athletics raised a total of $1,053,190.20 in revenue. 3. WSU student-athletes collectively volunteered 7,432 community service hours in the City of Detroit and surrounding communities.
4. Completed a state-of-the-art softball facility that includes coaches offices, a training room, a team locker room, a heated dugout, two indoor hitting and pitching cages, and adjacent bullpens. 5. Football head coach Paul Winters was selected as one of 11 Michiganians of the Year by the Detroit News. Other winners included Governor Rick Snyder and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne. 6. Swimmer Catherine Leix was selected as the 2012 Detroit Athletic Club Michigan Female Athlete of the Year, becoming the first WSU student-athlete, male or female, to win the award. 7. The athletic department added women’s indoor and outdoor track and field which began competition Winter 2012. 8. The swimming and diving teams both successfully defended their GLIAC Championships in 2012. The women’s team won its third straight title and sixth in seven years, while the men’s team captured its seventh championship in the last decade. The women’s title was captured with a record 923 points, 323.5 points more than the second-place team. 9. Baseball qualified for the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional for the third consecutive season. 10. The men’s swimming and diving team finished in seventh place at the 2012 NCAA Division II National Championships. It marked the eighth year in a row the men’s program had finished in the top eight in the country. 11. Following the 2012 NCAA Swimming and Diving National Championship, head coach Sean Peters was named National Women’s Coach of the Meet, Carly Sevald was named Female Diver of the Meet, and diving coach Kelly LaCroix was named Female Diving Coach of the Meet. 12. WSU student-athletes achieved a cumulative 3.07 term GPA for Fall 2012 with a 94 percent retention rate. 13. For the first time in school history field lighting was added to the football stadium/Tom Adams Field. 14. Swimmer Catherine Leix was voted CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-American of the Year for Division II. She is the first WSU Student-Athlete in history to be so honored. In addition, Leix was named a First Team Academic All-American for the second straight year. 15. Sophomore swimmer Carol Azambuja was a five-time national champion in 2012, as she won the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke titles, setting school records in both, along with three relays. 16. Senior swimmer Andrey Seryy swept the sprint freestyle events (50, 100, 200) at the NCAA Division II Championships for the second straight year on his way to becoming a seven-time All-American in 2012. 17. Sophomore swimmer Kayla Scott was crowned national champion in the 100 breaststroke, establishing a new NCAA national meet record. 18. Junior Carly Sevald became the second women’s diving national champion in program history (Cassie Chetosky in 2010), winning the three-meter competition.
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19. The 2011-12 WSU Student-Athletes of the Year were swimming’s Catherine Leix and football’s Josh Renel. Both were CoSIDA Academic All-Americans as well as All-Americans in the pool or playing field.
20. The softball team won its first GLIAC Tournament title since 1995 to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. It was WSU’s ninth GLIAC tournament title in school history. 21. The January 2012 edition of the NCAA Magazine Champion featured diver Paige Kortman. Included in the piece was a video, article and cover shot. The national publication goes to every institution in the country. 22. The department hosted the third annual W Week highlighting a week of activities focused on the growth ad recognition of women’s athletics. The celebration included: academic luncheon, basic needs drive, health fair, live television broadcast and W Day speakers event. 23. The softball program was recognized by the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) for recording a 3.403 team grade-point average during the 2011-12 school year. The GPA ranked 16th nationally among 285 NCAA Division II institutions that sponsor softball. 24. Two fall sports student-athletes were recipients of the GLIAC Commissioner’s Award for academic and athletic excellence. Selected were football’s Mickey Mohner and Nick Thomas. The prestigious honor is given to only 12 student-athletes in the conference each season. 25. Three winter sports student-athletes were recipients of the GLIAC Commissioner’s Award for academic and athletic excellence. Selected were swimming’s Catherine Leix and Fares Ksebati, and men’s basketball’s Ian Larkin. The prestigious honor is given to only 12 student-athletes in the conference each season. 26. Three spring sports student-athletes were recipients of the GLIAC Commissioner’s Award for academic and athletic excellence. Selected were softball’s Alison Allen, baseball’s Andrew Ciennik and Thomas Ducret from men’s tennis. The prestigious honor is given to only 12 student-athletes in the conference each season. 27. Andrey Seryy was named GLIAC Male Swimmer of the Year for the second consecutive year. 28. The Winters on Wednesdays radio show debuted featuring head football coach Paul Winters on AM 1400 the Patriot throughout the 2012 football season. The coach’s show ran for one hour each week throughout the football season. 29. Men’s golf qualified for its sixth straight NCAA Division II Super Regional in 2012, and eighth in the past nine years. 30. Softball second baseman Nikki Fulton was voted coGLIAC Player of the Year. 31. Freshman Dylan Szegedi received the GLIAC Men’s Diver of the Year award. 32. Andrew Ciennik was selected to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America Division II First Team in a vote by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Ciennik was the first WSU baseball student-athlete to receive CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades since 1995. 33. Football appeared on television in seven of its 10 contests, including a nationally televised Thursday evening game on CBS College Sports Network. It was the second year WSU has appeared on national television. Men’s and women’s basketball, and softball also appeared on state-wide live television. 34. The men’s basketball team qualified for GLIAC Tournament for the fourth consecutive year and the ninth time in the last 11 years. The squad finished with an 18-9 overall record and a 14-5 mark in the GLIAC.
35. Three members of the 2012 softball team were voted to the CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America Teams. Alison Allen earned First Team Academic All-America honors, while Nikki Fulton and Logan White were both selected to the Academic All-America Third Team. 36. Sophomore cross country runner Amanda Brewer finished 25th overall at the 2012 NCAA Women’s Cross Country National Championship becoming the third women’s cross country runner in school history to earn All-American honors (Rachelle Malette in 2006 and Shelly Vickery in 2002).
37. Volleyball qualified for the 2012 GLIAC Tournament and advanced to the semifinals for only the second time since 1997. 38. Three men’s basketball student-athletes were honored. Ike Udanoh was voted to the All-GLIAC First Team and the GLIAC All-Defensive Team. Ian Larkin was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team and Dale Brundidge was selected to the GLIAC’s All-Defensive Team. 39. Sophomore cornerback Gerren DuHart and junior kicker Stefan Terleckyj were named to the 2012 Don Hansen’s Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-Super Region Four Team. 40. The Wayne State University Athletics marketing department was awarded a gold medal for its “Monsters of Midtown” football promotional poster by the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA).
ademic honors. They were seniors Justin DeFrancis, Matt Mahalak, Eric Ramaekers, Justin Sylvester, Kyle Vesey and Josh Wedesky, juniors Kasey Koster and Alex Pierse, along with sophomores Chris Gebara, Jeff Sorenson, and Kirk Stambaugh, and redshirt freshmen Christian Bilkovic and Mark Lepri.
50. WSU Athletics hosted the inaugural Women’s Basketball Holiday Classic sponsored by Waste Management. Urbana University, Northwood University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis all traveled to Detroit to compete in the tournament that included a banquet and team amenities. 51. Seven softball student-athletes were named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence squad - seniors Alison Allen and Rebecca Stanley, juniors Makelle Barski, and Stephanie Foreman, and sophomores Amanda Burnard, Nikki Fulton and Logan White. The three student-athletes earning All-Academic team honors were seniors Sam Cain, Lauren Histed, and Rebecca Ryan. 52. A state-of-the-art tennis scoreboard was installed at the outdoor tennis courts behind the Matthaei. Five of the six courts were named in honor of past WSU tennis coaches and student-athletes. 53. Swimming head coach Sean Peters was named the GLIAC Women’s Coach of the Year for the sixth time in his career. Coach Peters has been either the men’s or women’s coach of the year (or both) every year since 2002.
79. The Rec Center added 85 new pieces of cardio equipment with integrated monitor, cable television, and MP3 interface.
64. WSU announced two full-time hires for the new women’s indoor/outdoor track teams. Kirby Blackley was named Associate Coach while Kelly Ash was hired as an assistant coach.
80. WSU inducted its 37th annual Hall of Fame class. Inducted were: Dr. Noah Brown, Jr., swimmer Nick Ingrao, volleyball player Elisa Jones, fencer Jakub Krochmalski and cross country runner Joe Verellen.
65. The 2012 football senior class completed their careers as the second winningest class in the 95-year history of the program.
81. Men’s basketball players Andrew Tines and Ian Larkin earned GLIAC All-Academic Excellence honors, while Stacey Waters was selected to the GLIAC All-Academic team.
66. Women’s swimmers/divers named to the GLIAC AllAcademic Excellence team were Catherine Leix, Emily Mitzelfeld, Kayla Scott, Carly Sevald, Heather Thomson and Alycen Wiacek. Earning GLIAC All-Academic recognition were Michelle Adamic, Ashley Corriveau, Kelsey Dischler, Stephanie Ekleberry, Jenelle Gondek, Nicole Kudla, Chelsea Lord and Alex Malfroid. 67. Earning All-Academic Excellence honors from men’s swimming/diving were Alex Bordyukov, Nathan Hesche, Fares Ksebati, Jordan Papp, Justin Rauhoff and Cameron Weaver. GLIAC All-Academic laurels were given to Darrin Driesenga, Cameron Fryzel, Jeff Grant, Kristian Larsen, Jimmy Lee, Cody Narlock, Calvin Reder, Andrey Seryy and Matt Witkos.
41. Women’s Tennis established a program record with 22 wins during the 2011-12 season.
54. Outside hitter Kristen Bulkiewicz was voted to the Volleyball All-GLIAC First Team, while libero Lindsey Graciak was selected to the Second Team and setter Cydney Biessel was named Honorable Mention All-GLIAC.
42. The men’s fencing squad placed 14th at the 2012 NCAA Championship and 17th in the overall (men’s and women’s combined). Quentin Schneider, Michael Ramlow and Nick Silantyev represented WSU at the championship.
68. Sophomore Quentin Schneider and senior Nick Silantyev each earned gold medals for the second straight year at the 2012 Danosi Fencing Open. Senior Olivia Dobbs won the women’s foil event for the fourth consecutive year and junior Kaja Klodawska was also victorious in the women’s sabre for the second straight season.
55. The WSU men’s golf team won the first NCAA Regional golf event of the school year at Brighton Dale Links in Kansasville, Wis.
69. As part of an academic retention and enhancement program, athletics created and implemented a Warrior Survival Skills Course.
56. WSU hired an assistant athletic director for marketing (Nicole Blaszczyk) formerly from the Detroit Tigers.
70. Men’s golfers Tyler Haksluoto and Tyler LaSerra were named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence team, while Dillon Horn, Austin Hill, Reid Dean, Robert Favaro, Alex LaSerra and Jafar Dada earned GLIAC All-Academic team recognition.
43. Seven softball student-athletes were named All-GLIAC. Nikki Fulton, Rebecca Ryan and Logan White were selected to the First Team; Alison Allen and Sam Cain were named to the Second Team; and Lauren Histed and Stephanie Foreman received Honorable Mention accolades. 44. Seven members of the baseball squad claimed All-GLIAC honors. Junior Brad Guenther was joined on the AllGLIAC Second Team by four of his senior teammates – Andrew Ciennik, Alex Trojan, Kyle Vesey and Billy Hurley. Alex Pierse and Ethan Vasiliauskas were named Honorable Mention All-GLIAC. 45. Women’s tennis student-athletes Yahsha Moore and Julia Kamenko were each selected First Team All-GLIAC, while Alex Poissant was voted Second Team All-GLIAC and Anne Li Briand was named Honorable Mention. 46. Eleven members of the 2012 football team were named to All-GLIAC squads. Stefan Terleckyj and Gerren DuHart both were voted to the All-GLIAC First Team. Voted to the All-GLIAC Second Team were Terleckyj (as the placekicker), Curtis Ferguson, Serxho Guraleci, Nick Thomas, Aaron Cornett, Toney Davis, Dominique Maybanks and Ed Viverette. Andrew Matt was named Honorable Mention All-GLIAC. 47. Men’s golf won three consecutive tournaments during the fall 2012 season including the first Midwest Regional. Robert Favaro was the medalist in two of the three tournaments. 48. Kei Cze Prentis was honored as the GLIAC Women’s Swimming Freshman of the Year. 49. Twenty baseball student-athletes were named to a GLIAC All-Academic team. Selected to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence team were seven seniors - Ryan Buter, Andrew Ciennik, J.J. Ciennik, Billy Hurley, Corey Post, Josh Schafer, and Phil Swanson. Another 13 received GLIAC All-Ac-
57. Senior Jimmy Maloney placed fifth at the GLIAC conference meet, earning First Team All-GLIAC honors. 58. The two women’s tennis players named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team were Tanya Joseph and Anne Li Briand. Senior Jessica Kruczek and Yahsha Moore received GLIAC All-Academic team recognition. 59. The men’s tennis squad led all GLIAC teams with six All-Academic Excellence selections in senior Will Nolan, juniors Thomas Ducret, Oscar Gamarra and Jon Groszek, along with sophomores Michael FitzGerald and Melvin Joseph. Matt Fisher earned a spot on the GLIAC AllAcademic team. 60. Five members of the men’s cross country team were recognized by the GLIAC for academic success. The three Warriors named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team were Doug Mack, Nicholas Jackson and Nick Culbertson, while Phil Baldick and Jason Smith received GLIAC All-Academic team honors.
named to the GLIAC All-Tournament Team.
Zak Bielecki, Thom Box, Kevin Buford-Wilson, Pat Cecile, Steve Conway, Moe Davenport, Serxho Guraleci, Kaunda Hancock, Mike Komor, Tim MacLean, Andrew Matt, Austin Nelson, Michael Pack, Carl Roscoe, Mike Sawchuk, Will Wheat and Jeff Williams.
71. Nine volleyball students athletes earned league academic honors in the fall of 2012. Madie Kent, Julie Sanders, Nicole Arends, Kristen Bulkiewicz, Jessica DeLeeuw and Jamie Goryca all were selected to the All-Academic Excellence squad, while Cydney Biessel, Katarzyna Sak and Carlee Hunt were named to the GLIAC All-Academic team. 72. Women’s basketball student-athlete Paige Sickmiller competed for USA Athletes International in Italy during the summer of 2012. 73. The WSU Baseball program hosted a summer camp with guest speakers Cecil Fielder and Doug Fister from the Detroit Tigers. 74. The Mort Harris Recreation and Fitness Center completed a merchandise area near the front desk. The ‘pro shop’ type display features Wayne State athletic gear.
82. Athletic Parking Lots 40 and 50 were re-built and paved along with outdoor lighting and technology upgrades. 83. The women’s tennis team won 14 straight matches overall on its way to reaching the GLIAC Tournament Semifinals. The squad finished the fall season with a 13-1 record in the GLIAC. 84. WSU Athletics hosted its second annual “Junior Day” for prospective student-athletes and their families. 85. WSU Athletics, in conjunction with the Detroit Sports Commission, hosted the annual Prep High School Classic for 12 area high school football teams. It was the first time the event was held at WSU. 86. Football recorded a 38-31 Homecoming victory on Oct. 20, It was the eighth consecutive Homecoming win. 87. Men’s tennis advanced to the GLIAC Semifinals. 88. For the first time intramural championships in flag football and ultimate frisbee were played “under the lights” at Tom Adams Field, while the basketball championship was played on the Matthaei varsity court. 89. Billy Hurley set the WSU single-season (11) and career (19) saves records. 90. Female participation in intramurals increased sixteen percent (16%) with expanded offerings and opportunities. 91. Athletics added a dedicated academic advisor housed in the Matthaei as part of its academic resource objectives. 92. Former football player Phil Emery was selected as the General Manager of the Chicago Bears. Emery was a three-year letterwinner (1978-79-80) with the Tartars earning First Team All-GLIAC honors in 1980. He was also a recipient in 1981 of an NCAA post-graduate scholarship. 93. Video upgrades were made to the football facility and locker room with a new sound system. 94. An olde English “D” statue was installed in front of the Multipurpose Indoor Facility. 95. For the first time in school history, WSU served as a host institution for an NCAA Division II Baseball Regional.
61. Three women’s cross country members named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team were Samantha Kaufman, Chelsie Fuller and Olivia Kwiatkowski. Rachel Bandrow, Kayla Gagnon and Amanda Brewer were selected to the GLIAC All-Academic team.
75. The Department of Athletics hosted the Major League Baseball “”Wanna Play?” clinic as part of MLB’s World Series Game 3 youth initiative. Members of the WSU baseball and softball team served as camp clinicians.
62. Men’s tennis student-athlete Thomas Ducret was voted First Team All-GLIAC for the second straight year. Aman Gill was named Second Team All-GLIAC, while Michael FitzGerald was selected Honorable Mention.
76. Women’s basketball juniors Amelia Davis and Paige Sickmiller earned GLIAC All-Academic Excellence honors, while junior Phaebre Colbert and sophomore Lena Thomas received GLIAC All-Academic team honors.
63. Twenty-six football student-athletes earned academic All-GLIAC honors from the league. Earing All-Academic Excellence accolades were Sean McCarthy, Mickey Mohner, Steve O’Shell, Chet Privett, Stefan Terleckyj, Nate Theaker, Nick Thomas, Ben Walker and Ethan Walsh. Named to the GLIAC All-Academic squad were
77. Former Detroit Tigers Alan Trammell and Lance Parrish hosted their third camp at the Matthaei.
99. Added AED (Automated External Defibrillator) equipment throughout the athletic campus.
78. Junior outside hitter Kristen Bulkiewicz was voted to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) AllMidwest Region Honorable Mention team. She was also
100. Athletics successfully implemented its new marketing initiative to attract fans entitled “I Crossed the Lodge.”
96. The swimming facility added two new record boards. 97. The women’s basketball team was the only team to finish 2-0 at its Holiday Classic. Talisha Bridges was named tournament MVP, while Paige Sickmiller and Deanna Crumpton were named to the all-tournament team. 98. The Multipurpose Indoor Facility (MIF) made substantial surface changes and added indoor batting cages.
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Softball Facility
Softball Facility
In the Spring of 2012 Wayne State Athletics finished construction on Phase I of the softball facility which included a locker room and coaches offices. Earlier this winter Phase II of the softball facility wrapped up and the facility now includes two indoor hitting and pitching lanes. The area is heated with turf flooring and custom netting. The pitching mounds have a similar composition to a real field which allows for game-like conditions while practicing and warming up. The project also included construction of a new outdoor bullpen which features four pitching lanes.
The Evolution of a Sport. “Recruiting wise no other GLIAC teams have a facility like this, even the Division I programs don’t. Everyone that we have shown the facility to has been blown away. It’s a tremendous tool not only for recruiting but it’s an outstanding usage tool as well. “The girls now have a locker room that leads to the dugout which is great for the weather here in Midtown. They also have the ability to hit or pitch whenever they want with the heated facility. There is no excuse not to come in and get work done now.” -Coach Gary Bryce 10 | WARRIOR WITHIN SPRING 2013
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softball preview
locker rooms
A Youth Movement
With your tax-deductible gift, payable over four years, you can personalize a locker in any of our three new locker room facilities by purchasing a locker plaque. The plaque will be engraved with your chosen personalization that is then affixed to a current studentathlete’s locker.
Although young, the Warrior Softball team aims high in 2013
With 13 of the 19 players on the roster in either their first or second year of college, head coach Gary Bryce along with assistants Pat Kent and Nicole Abel will have to do plenty of teaching and molding during the 2013 campaign. Bryce, who has led WSU to 17 NCAA tournament appearances in his 31 seasons at the helm, does have six returning starters led by GLIAC Co-Player of the Year Nikki Fulton. A standout second baseman, Fulton batted .390 a year ago with 12 home runs along with a .677 slugging percentage. She is the lone returning starter in the infield. “Nikki had a great year last year,” commented Bryce. “She is a tri-captain for us this year and hopefully will continue to improve since she works really hard.” Gone from last year’s squad are two-time AllAmerican Alison Allen (.374, team-high 59 RBI), first baseman Rebecca Ryan (.346, .419 on-base) and shortstop Lauren Histed (143 fielding assists). Vying for playing time around the infield are a plethora of new faces. Freshman Jade McGarr will bat second and play third base for the Warriors in 2013. “She was a middle infielder for her summer team but has adjusted well with the move to third base,” said Bryce. “She has a really good arm and quickness.” Another newcomer, freshman Gabby Williams, played well in the fall at shortstop. “She has a lot of softball instincts with great anticipation to go along with a great arm,” added Bryce. “Down the road she will be a quality shortstop.” Three different players started at least 10 games each behind the plate last season. Former hockey player
Junior, Nikki Fulton
Julie Ingratta is taking the year off due to past injuries. worked hard to improve her hitting and did a nice job Sophomore Emily Bryce and junior Amanda Burnard in the fall filling in at many positions.” are strong defensively but will need to improve their Freshman Ashley Dunford is a hard-working utility offensive production in 2013. player that can play anywhere on the infield. Both Burnard and Bryce are slated to see Rookie Amy Zaranek made great strides time at first base and behind the plate during the fall and has a chance to be a very this spring. productive ballplayer down the road. Newcomer Alex Elwell could Ali Lince, who transferred from Lake Superior over also see time behind the the summer, will have to redshirt in 2013 due to plate. “We hope to give Alex GLIAC transfer rules. some playing time in certain The 2012 Wayne State squad set school records for situations. We need to get doubles (93), runs scored (353) and RBI (314) while something hitting wise out totaling the second-most hits (541), walks (119) of the catching position.” and total bases (791) in school annals. The outfield is a different story Last year’s team had the highest on-base where all three starters from a year ago are percentage (.388) since 1979 along with the back in the fold. highest batting average (.336) and slugging Junior left fielder Logan White led last year’s percentage (.467) since 1998. team with a .397 batting average and was hit With the 2012 pitching staff having the by a pitch 12 times. “Logan can cover a lot of highest ERA in school history (3.75), last ground in the outfield. She has improved her year’s team definitely earned its 34 wins hitting (.324 to .397) and will be our leadoff via offense having scored at least three hitter in 2013.” runs in all but 14 games. WSU went 25-4 Sophomore center fielder Shannon Hilton when scoring at least six runs in a game hit .283 and had just two errors while last season. covering a lot of ground. “Shannon has With many new players making great instincts. She just finds a way to their Warrior debut in 2013 it will get to the ball. She has really worked be interesting to see if the offense hard on hitting this past fall.” can continue the momentum it Right fielder Stephanie Foreman, established in 2012 and if the a steady performer the last three pitching staff can improve on its seasons, enters her senior campaign statistics from a season ago. tied-for-14th in career home runs This year’s schedule will Senior, (12), tied-for-second in sacrifice feature 16 games against flies (8), seventh in RBI (109), 16th teams that qualified for last Stephanie Foreman in doubles (32), 22nd in walks year’s NCAA tournament (34), 24th in total bases (214), including contests vs. 30th in runs (78), and 33rd the defending national in hits (146). “Stephanie has champions (Valdosta State improved her batting average each year and really did on Feb. 17), a final four participant (Kutztown on a nice job getting a hit when we needed one.” Feb. 22) along with a pair of games each against two Sophomore Shelby Spano batted .246 a year ago. squads that reached the College World Series (Adelphi “Shelby has a lot of power and has cut down her on March 10 and 13, and Flagler doubleheader on swing. She needs to work on consistency at the plate.” March 11). After having Sam Cain earn 22 wins a year ago in the The Warriors begin the 2013 campaign at the circle and toss over 200 innings, the Warriors will be Charger Chillout in Decatur, Ala. on Feb. 15-17 where looking for new faces to emerge on the mound. they are scheduled to play six games in three days, Sophomore Briana Lee garnered nine wins in 2012, including in-region contests against Indianapolis, while senior Emily Wickerham made 14 appearances Kentucky Wesleyan and Southern Indiana. last season. The following weekend WSU ventures to Salisbury, Mackenzie Boehler, Lyndsay Butler, and Lee should N.C. for the Catawba Invitational. Coach Bryce’s all see time in the circle for the Warriors. Wickerham squad will battle Winston-Salem State, last year’s is a down thrower that will be used to give batters a CIAA tournament winner, Kutztown along with NCAA different pitch to see. tournament participant Lenoir-Rhyne. “Boehler has a bulldog mentality to get the job After a weekend off, Wayne State will head to Florida done. She has great movement on her pitches.” for Spring Break. In addition to the 12 games as part Butler will be WSU’s No. 4 hitter and either serve of the Rebel Spring Games, the Warriors will play a as the designated player or play first base when not twinbill at Flagler. pitching. Once returning North, WSU’s entire schedule will “Lee has been a pleasant surprise this season,” said consist of GLIAC contests. The top eight squads Bryce. “She is another pitcher that can also hit. qualify for the league tournament to be played in Senior Makelle Barski can be a contributor to the Findlay, Ohio, the weekend of May 3-5. team in a variety of aspects this year, while redshirt Wayne State’s goal again in 2013 is to be one of freshman Catherine Rayos is coming off a medical the eight Midwest Region teams selected to play in the redshirt last year that required surgery. “She is NCAA tournament. someone that can play a lot of spots. Catherine has
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The Wayne State Department of Athletics prides itself on offering a first-class experience to our student-athletes. Our new and renovated facilities are helping do just that. Conceived as a way to help fund the top-notch facilities for the student-athletes of today and tomorrow, our supporters can leave their permanent mark on the Warriors’ new facilities and help the department continue to offer our student-athletes the tools to make them successful in the classroom, on the field, and in the community.
Hitting streaks
Generally we think of hitting streaks as a personal achievement. Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak comes to mind as one of the greatest sports feats ever. In the case of the new locker rooms for baseball and softball, we are looking to string our hits together as a team to achieve the success necessary to be the best. For each person that steps up to the plate and delivers a hit by securing a locker in the new facilities, a hit will be added to the total goals of 20 games for softball and 40 games for baseball, based upon the number of lockers in each facility.
#
WSU ATHLETICS LOCKER ROOM PROJECTS __________________________________________________________ Name (As you wish to appear for athletics donor recognition)
q 20-Game Hitting Streak • Softball Locker Room Project - $1,000
__________________________________________________________ Address
q 40-Game Hitting Streak • Baseball Locker Room Project - $1,000
__________________________________________________________ City State Zip
Development Director Wayne State Athletics 5101 John C. Lodge 101 Matthaei Detroit, MI 48202 (313) 577-0587
q Football Locker Room Project - $2,000
__________________________________________________________ Employer
q Check Enclosed
q Visa
q MasterCard
__________________________________________________________ Home Phone Business Phone
_________________________________________________________ Card Number Exp. Date
__________________________________________________________ E-mail Address
__________________________________________________________ Signature
(Payable to WSU Athletics)
Please include in reply envelope in this magazine or send to address indicated
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donors
donors
The Wayne State University Department of Athletics would like to thank the following donors for their generous support of Warrior Athletics. These gifts help to provide scholarships, upgrade equipment and facilities. This list includes donations of $100 and more made to the Department of Athletics between August 1, 2011 and November 30, 2012. There are numerous financial opportunities to make a difference in the exciting and promising futures of Wayne State’s student-athletes and athletic programs. Please see the inside back cover of this magazine for gift-giving clubs and the benefits associated with supporting athletics. For more information, please call the Athletics Development Office, at 313-577-0587. ALL-AMERICAN CLUB ($5,000+) American Football Coaches Association AT&T Mr. Gary Bryce Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund James and Carol Hayes Mr. Jack Keating Michigan First Credit Union Oakwood Healthcare, Inc. Robmar Precision, Inc. SG Construction Services LLC Michael J. Stoltenberg, M.D. Trinity, Inc. Turner Construction Company Foundation-Michigan Walbridge Waste Management of Michigan, Inc. Thomas and Gail Wiseman
DIRECTOR’S CLUB ($2,500-$4,999) William and Kimberly Avery Barnes & Noble College Bookstores, Inc. Blaze Contracting, Inc. DAC Foundation Dearborn Sausage Company Mr. Kevin P. deBear DeMaria Building Company, Inc. Gregory and Phyllis DeMars Evangelista Corporation G T J Consulting Mr. Angelo L. Gust Marc J. Milia, M.D. Sanford and Linda Simons Turner Construction Company
CAPTAIN’S CLUB ($1,000 - $2,499) AIREA, Inc. Ally Paul and Shirley Andrews Automated Benefit Services Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Barry Becker Mr. Thomas G. Bomberski Clifford A. Brown William C. Cirocco, M.D. Compuware Corporation Ms. Robin Coolsaet Matthew Cunningham Harley Ellis Devereaux Detroit Thermal LLC Mr. & Mrs. Phillip D. Emery Mr. Vernon D. Foss Ms. Chelsie Fuller Mr. Gerald P. Gagnon Michael F. Green Mr. David L. Greer Hamilton Anderson Associates, Inc. Ernie Harwell Foundation Mr. James J. Hopson Mr. and Mrs. Michael Horn Mr. John Jambor Johnny Mac’s Sporting Goods Bino Joseph Ms. Samantha Kaufman F. John Keogh, III Robert Kohrman Miss Karen S. Lafata Ms. Ann M. Lapointe Legacy Foundation Mr. Mark E. Limback Mary I. McLeod Foundation Abdel-Wahab I. Meri, M.D.
Mr. Thomas S. Milanov James H. Mulchay, III Mr. Philip E. Nickel Phi Gamma Chi David and Julie Ripple Mr. Mitchell L. Ritter Roth Electrical LLC S. Gary Spicer, Sr. Foundation Robert & Marietta Samaras Jim R. Sears Mr. Christopher A. Stevenson Suntel Services LLC Mr. Steven S. Toth Mr. Alexander R. Townsend Mr. Nick G. Tumbarello Robert D. Uhrin, D.D.S. Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program William and Linda Watt Jeffrey L. Weiss Mr. Paul J. Widdoes Wing Industrial Inc. Women of Wayne Alumni Association Mr. Robert A. Yousey
VARSITY CLUB ($500 - $999) Mr. & Mrs. George F. Adams Mr. Philip Baldick Ms. Rachel Bandrow Mr. Travis M. Barczak Barton Malow Company Gary & Wendy Bice Rex Alfred Boyce, Jr. Ms. Audrey J. Boyes Ms. Anne Li Briand Mr. Matthew J. Carey Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Carlson Pam and Frederick Cavataio Mr. Calvin C. Chen Jason & Beci Clark Mr. Christopher A. Coolsaet Mr. Rick Corriveau Ms. Denise N. Devey Mr. Wrex R. Diem Robert J. Fournier Mr. James A. Fuller Mr. Greg J. Gargulinski Iderjit Gill Denise G. Kelley Gray, M.D. Mr. Jonathan Groszek Green Electrical Supply, LLC Mr. Cameron T. Hill Mr. Chris Hill Ms. Victoria Hollingsworth Logan Hughes Mr. Randy Jackson Mr. Michael R. Johnson Blake Johnson Mr. Phillip H. Johnson Leit & Linda Jones Mr. George P. Juszczyk Mr. Arthur H. Ketelhut Ms. Pamela Kruczek Ms. Olivia A. Kwiatkowski Dr. Steven M. Lash Ms. Crystal L. Lemke Mr. Martin Letzmann Carrie Lohr Mr. Robert C. MacDonald Mr. Douglas Mack Mr. & Mrs. Richard M. Marsack Masco Corporation Donald and Lila McMechan Ms. Tina Marie Miller Miotech Orthopedics Fred & Irene Mulhauser
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Mr. Michael R. O’Hara Ms. Jamie Palmer Mr. Christ Petrouleas & Judy Petrouleas Charlie and Lois E. Primas Sharon K. Progar Mr. Dennis A. Purgatori Mr. & Mrs. Rodney H. Raetzke RBV Contracting, Inc. Ms. Celia Robinson Ms. Jennifer Rock Mr. Douglas A. Rowe Mr. Jim Saviano Mr. Clay L. Sheckels Shunkwiler Chiropractic Health Center, Inc. Jordan Sinclair Ms. Beverly S. Smith Mr. Jason Earl Smith Mr. Angus W. Sutherland Mr. Jay G. Thompson Mr. Todd D. Vydick W. R. Steele & Associates Inc.
GREEN AND GOLD CLUB ($250-$499) Mr. Thomas E. Abdenour Advantage Group Benefits, L.L.C. Mr. Jonathon Alandt Sarmad Attala Mr. Mark Avery Mr. Daniel L. Bedogne Mr. John R. Bellefleur Mrs. Annette L. Bielecki Mr. Steven M. Booth Gloria Lynn Bradley Lynne M. and Arthur W. Bryant, Sr. Bob Butler & Earlene Nunes Ciennik Financial Group, Inc. Monte & Tyra Clark Mr. Richard F. Corona, Jr. Jennifer K. Culbertson Mr. John J. Dailey Mr. Raymond E. Dean Mr. Matthew J. Deighan Fred and Nancy Delcomyn Mr. Daniel Devey Mr. Thomas Ducret Farm Bureau Insurance Richard A. Fischer, Jr. Mr. Mattheew P. Fisher Mr. David Fisher Mr. Jeff Fontecchio Mr. Oscar Gamarra Mr. Joseph A. Garcia Candace Beutell Gardner Kanye Gardner Andrey Goranskaya Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Green Mr. Wayne Griffith Abdulfattah Ahmed Hadarah Ahmed Hadarh Mr. Kenneth F. Halfacre Mr. Ryan Hankins Dawn and Matthew Hansen Mr. Daniel Hauser Mr. Sean P. Harrington Mr. Kenneth J. Hasse Mr. Zachary Houghton Ms. Nancy A. Juszczyk Mr. Alex Kamenko Mr. Lee W. Keating Mr. Ryan Kelley Mr. and Mrs. John Kinch Kold Pack, Inc. Mr. Michael Komor Mr. Robert F. Langas Law Offices of Mark S. Bilkovice PLLC
Ms. Rosalind Lewis Mr. David R. Lutz Mr. David H. Mattingly Barb & Mike Mohner Ms. McCall Monte Mr. Larry J. Moore Ms. Yahsha Moore Ms. Sharon L. Murphy Matthew and Tracy Muscat Mr. Robert M. Mutch National Realty Centers Nicolson Associates Mr. Chris Nolan Ms. Suzanne Donnenwerth Nolan Dave and Lisa Nowinski Brien O’Shell Palmetto Investments LLC Carl Papa, D.D.S., P.C. Mr. Alexander M. Prentice Mr. and Mrs. James Prentis Mr. Joshua Priehs Mr. & Mrs. Michael D. Russell Mr. John J. Samonie Mr. Charles J. Schneider Ms. Sara Shunkwiler Ms. Peggy A. Shunkwiler Ms. Sheila A. Smith Mr. Brian G. Stuard Mario M. Trafeli, Jr. Trenton Total Health Care Center PC Jeanine R. Vincent Mr. John Walus and Mrs. Deborah Walus Mr. Salvatore J. Warner Mr. and Mrs. Larry Weiss Ms. Gwendolyn V. Wheat Ms. Elizabeth G. White Mr. & Mrs. Claude W. Williams Mr. & Mrs. Terrance S. Woods
LETTERWINNER’S CLUB ($100-$249) Mr. John B. Aird Allegra Print & Imaging Ms. Mary A. Allen Ms. Fawne N. Allossery Amberg Events American-Zyker Tool Repair Andiamo Riverfront Mr. David Andrus Taylor J. Arancibia Ms. Nicole J. Arends Mr. John C. Armstrong Mr. William T. Avery Bacmar LLC DBA Northville Sports Den Mr. Naif Baidoon Ms. Kayla Balfour Mr. David Barczak Anthony Bass Ms. Barbara J. Bates Ms. Joan Beach Mr. Mark Benvenuto Mr. Dave Bernard Mr. Richard J. Berryman Mr. John L. Bertolini Mrs. Annette L. Bielecki Mr. & Mrs. Biessel Mr. Mark S. Bilkovic Mr. Frank E. Bitonti Mrs. Kathleen Bitonti Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Bochenek Fatime Bogdani Mr. Gregory and Mrs. Michelle Brecht Donald Brown Mr. Stan Bulkiewicz Burke’s Sport Haven, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Buter Ms. Clara Callebs
Mr. Tom Campau Mr. Ruben Cardenas, Jr. Jason Carpenter Casa Calabria Chameleon Power Inc. Mr. Michael J. Charlow Michael H. Cho Mr. & Mrs. Anthony J. Cibor James J. Ciennik, III Dr. & Mrs. William Colovas Mr. Matthew D. Conley Mr. & Mrs. Michael W. Cornelia Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Cosner, Jr. Coughlin Land Services, LLC Mr. Thomas C. Coyle Mark D. Cowan, M.D. Mr. Daniel T. Craig Creative Insurance Planning Inc. Mr. David C. Crespi Ms. Kathryn C. Culbertson Ms. Lori Cunningham Mr. & Mrs. Cushard Daniel A. Lepri, D.D.S., PC Elizabeth J. Darga Ms. Maribeth December Mr. David DeFrancis Ms. Marie Jo DeFrancis Mrs. Sharon L. DeLeeuw Mr. Kenneth E. Demps Mr. Douglas E. DenDooven Detroit Athletic Club Mr. Roger Dickerson Mr. & Mrs. Donald S. Didlake Mr. Angelo DiMaggio Dr. & Dr. John D. Dinka Diane & Gerald DiPaola Diskomp Computer Sales, Ltd. Mr. Lawrence E. Dockham Mr. Herbert C. Doebler Mr. Maurice Dozier Mr. Eugene Driker Driker Family Foundation Mr. William J. Ellison Mr. Adam Erard Mr. Christian R. Erard Mr. Steven Fedewa Mr. Dominic R. Ferri Mr. & Mrs. John Filip Mr. Chad C. Finkbeiner Mr. Gerald F. Fischer Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Fishburn Ms. Amy Fisher Mr. Scott A. Fisher Mrs. Nancy Fitzgerald Daniel Fleming Mr. Michael H. Flynn Mr. Terrance S. Flynn Ms. Candyce L. Foreman Mr. Daniel J. Fortune Ms. Kimm Fuller Mrs. Ann Lane Gates Mr. Phillip Gawel Mr. Thomas George Ms. Kathryn Paige George Mr. Joseph Gerow Mr. Thomas R. Gijsbers Dr. Jean Sinkoff and Dr. Bernard Goldstein Mr. Jorge A. Gomez Kirk Goodlow, Ph.D Mr. Richard H. Goranowski Mr. Wayne B. Goryca Ms. Andrea Goryca Mr. Davis S. Graciak Frederick Graf Mrs. Marilee Griffith Mrs. Caroline Grimaldi Mr. Paul C. Grondin Dr. Kye H. Ha, Ph.D. Ms. Carol Haksluoto Hall Transportation, Inc. Mr. Charles C. Harris Mr. Robert J. Hartwick
Hartwick Realty Group Mr. Kevin M. Heck Ken and Lisa Hesche Mr. Dennis Heselschwerdt Mrs. Kathy Histed Mr. Kurt L. Hofner Ms. Elaina Hogle Lora Holcomb Mr. & Mrs. William P. Holleran Mr. Robert L. Holmes Mr. Timothy J. Homrich Honest John’s Bar And No Grill Inc. Mrs. Susan Hough Mr. Frank Hunt Robert E. Inman, D.O. Invenergy Wd North America LLC Ironwood of Plymouth LLC Mr. & Mrs. Irwin Mr. Leonard E. Jacosky Mr. Paul J. Janas Mr. Mark E. Jatich JBBC 17 Mr. Ken Johnson Ms. Shelley Johnson Huston Laverne Julian, II Mr. Lawrence G. Kaluzny Mrs. Janice Kashmerick Ms. Karen D. Kasprzyk Philip Kazmierski Mr. & Mrs. Richard Kent Ms. Lauren M. Kessler Mr. George H. Klaetke Mr. Walter A. Koepke Ms. Bela J. Kogler Mr. Edward Komph Ms. E. Joyce Krause Nicholas Krol Ms. Caroline R. Krynak Drs. Anil and Marjorie Kumar Clara A. Kuntz Urszula Kwiatkowski Mr. & Mrs. Daniel W. La Rosa Mr. Steven K. Lambert Mr. Alexander Glen LaSerra Mr. Craig Lather Mr. Thomas W. Leadbetter Mrs. Kelly LeBlanc Judith Lechvar Ms. Alma Lee Kathleen Leniczek Mr. Peter C. Leonhardt Mr. Daniel Lepri, D.D.S. Ms. Annette M. Lepri Reverend David M. Lillvis Livonia Automatic Inc. Mr. Curtis H. Loehr Mr. Dale Lohrmann Ms. Christine F. Lohrmann Kory Lohrmann Mr. & Mrs. Richard B. Lowry M & H Auto Sales Inc. Mr. & Mrs. C. Ross MacDonald Mr. Lester M. Mack Mr. Angus J. MacKenzie Mr. James P. Maloney Mr. Jeffrey A. Maloney Ms. Stacy Maloney Mr. Darrin McAllister Mr. Charles V. McHenry Gerry Megenity Metro Foodland Ms. Christy Coyte Meyer Kelsey Meyers Mr. & Mrs. Ciro J. Minnella Ms. Nancy Mitroka Monroe’s Original Hot Dogs Morgan Stanley Matching Gift Program Mr. Timothy Morris Mr. Bryan L. Morrow Allen E. Murphy Mr. Thomas S. Nantais Lorenzo M. Neely Mr. Steven Neshloff
Mr. Thomas C. North Mr. Enrico Odorico Professor Frank Okoh Ms. Lola Okonowski Olympic Grille Mrs. Eunice Orton Jamie Ostrander Mr. Gordon A. Otto Mrs. Jane E. Otto Mrs. Rita Otto Mr. Michael J. Paciorek Mary B. Passanante Mr. Matthew Pauwels Natalie Payne Ms. Valerie M. Peavy Mr. George Petrouleas Mr. Bryce D. Pitters Mr. & Mrs. Allen R. Poppenhager Mr. Warren F. Priehs Mr. Freddie L. Prime Chester John Putek Jr. Mr. Steven M. Ramaekers Ms. Michele Ranck John E. Rehberg Renaissance Fencing Club Mr. Daniel Renel Mr. Elbert Richmond Brian Rilley B. R. Roberson Mr. & Mrs. Peter Roberts Rochester Sales Inc. Rockland Networks Inc. Mr. Christopher J. Romano Kara Anna Kessler Mr. Eric M. Ruth Salem Communications Julie Sanders Mr. Robert Schaffer Mr. Robert J. Schroeder Mr. Gary A. Schultz Mr. Richard Schulz Mary Schwarz & Lyla Dor-Ghali Mr. Christopher R. Sciotti Mr. Kenneth L. Semelsberger Jerry Sharon Sherman & Associates Realty PC Stanley J. Simek, Jr. Mr. Christopher Simpson Ms. Karen L. Sinclair Mr. Raymond L. Skwiers Mr. Robert J. Sliwa Tip Smathers Mr. David E. Smith Mr. Kevin P. Smith Dr. Margaret A. Smoller Ms. Jo Ann Snyder Mrs. Bonnie Solden St. Clair College of Applied Arts Mr. Donald Stange Mr. Frank Stanicek Star Capital Advisors, LLC Kyle Stefan Mrs. Cynthia Stevenson Mr. Ty Douglas Stevenson Mr. Michael P. Stretlien Summit View Partners LLC Ms. Patricia S. Sutherby Mr. Stanley Sylvester Mr. Andrew Szegedi Mr. & Mrs. William Telford Matthew Thalgott The UPS Store 4573 Ms. Martha J. Thomas Ms. Joanna Thompson Ms. Allison K. Tookes Total Cleaning Systems LLC Ms. Tamara L. Tranter Mr. & Mrs. Frederick E. Tyner University Food Center, Inc. Ms. Anne-Lee Vandenbussche Mr. Charles VanRobays Mr. Ethan Vasiliauskas Ms. Diane E. Vesey
Mr. Bradley J. Vincent Mr. & Mrs. Richard D. Warchol Mr. John R. Wilczynski Ms. Rachael Williams Winston and Lauretta Williams Ms. Patrice G. Wilson Susan Wissman Mr. & Mrs. Scott J. Wooster Pat “Whizzer” Wyka Bob Wyman Ms. Laura Young Mr. Michael W. Zalucki Mr. Gregory A. Zawalski Kevin Zeleji Ms. Tammie Zimmerman
Bold indicates Anthony Wayne Society member ---------------------------------------------------------Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. We apologize for any errors or omissions. Please call the Athletic Development Office at (313) 577-0587 for corrections.
THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS
SPRING 2013
Abdenour Family Tom Adams Football Mark “Doc” Andrews Paul Andrews Bob Brennan Justin Chapman Dr. Nick Cherup The Croskey Family Karen DeGrazia Mel DeGrazia Maria A. Valle DeMasse Memorial Cal Dilworth Dorothy Dreyer Vernon K. Gale Memorial Joe Gembis Ivan C. & Elizabeth A. George Joseph L. Gualtieri Vic Hanson James Hayes John Hussey Patricia Kent Rodney C. Kropf Dr. Steven M. Lash Leo Maas Dr. William Markus Joel G. Mason David Mendelson Frederick A. Mulhauser Chuck Peters Bill & Dave Peterson The Petrouleas Family Dr. Steven T. Plomaritis and Family President’s Commission Bill Prew Charlie Primas Nicholas & Mary P’Sachos Yuri Rabinovich Dr. Thomas W. Roberts Ryan Scratch Les Seppala George B. Sherman Patricia D. Smith Jeann Ann Stanicek Dr. Mike Stoltenberg David and Lois Stulberg Foundation Irv Swider Tartar Gridiron Club Tartar Gridiron Club II Dr. E. John Valle WSU Academic & Athletic Women’s Basketball Christopher Wouters
WARRIOR WITHIN | 15
men’s tennis & golf previews Men’s Tennis Looks to Contend Once Again in 2013 Consistently finishing among the top squads in the GLIAC conference under fifth-year coach Bryan Morrow, the Wayne State University men’s tennis team is once again looking like a top-flight contender heading into the spring portion of the 2012-13 season. The Warriors have three seniors and three juniors on this year’s roster including all of the top players from a team that finished third in the GLIAC last season. “From last year, we have all of our top guys returning and we brought in Fazyl Kechai, a French player who will probably find himself in the top two or three in the singles lineup,” WSU men’s tennis coach Bryan Morrow said. “On top of that, junior Aman Gill is back healthy and looking good. He pulled a muscle in the second week of the season and all season we were trying to get him healthy, which never really happened.” Three-year letterwinners and seniors Thomas Ducret, Oscar Gamarra and Jon Groszek are all key members for WSU. Junior co-captains Michael FitzGerald and Melvin Joseph and sophomore Jason Chen also bring a wealth of Junior, Michael FitzGerald experience to comprise a strong lineup. The addition of redshirt sophomore Trey Keating gives WSU a potent doubles attack. “I’m going to have four doubles teams that all are going to be very competitive,” Morrow said. “Our goal is to be the best team in the conference in doubles by far. That’s our goal every year and we are pretty successful in most of our conference matches to head into the singles up 2-1. This year, we hope to be even better.” While the depth of talent is there, so too is the cohesiveness of the nine players. “The team chemistry and unity on this team is by far the best it’s ever been since I’ve been here,” Morrow said. “I think that starts with great captains. They just include each other and are so tight. They truly are a team, a brotherhood.” One who stresses high academics, Morrow believes his team is ready to make another successful run on the court and contend for a conference title. “First, one of the team goals that we take very seriously is to have the highest GPA in the athletic department,” he said. “We’ve been successful doing that in the past. When it comes to on the court, it’s our expectations to win a GLIAC Championship.” 16 | WARRIOR WITHIN SPRING 2013
Traveling the Road to Success
Strong Start Propels Men’s Golf into Second Half of Season Fueled by three straight victories during the fall, the Wayne State University men’s golf team put together a strong first half to its 2012-13 season. The Warriors are looking to sustain that momentum as they approach the second half of the season.n. “We had a great first half,” WSU men’s golf coach Mike Horn said. “You go into the first half hoping to put yourself in a position to make a run come springtime for the (NCAA Super Regional) tournament.” The golf team earned three straight wins during the fall tournament schedule. WSU won the Tiffin Sophomore, Invitational (Sept. 15-16) and Robert GLIAC Fall Event (Sept. 23Favaro 24) before topping a 24-team field at an Midwest Regional #1 tournament held at Brighton Dale Links in Wisconsin. “Three wins was fantastic,” Horn said. “I was a little worried about going into GLIAC’s with an unblemished record. You always want to maintain that edge.” WSU finished in a tie for fourth place at the GLIAC Championships, held at the Elyria Country Club in Ohio. Individually, sophomore Robert Favaro won two events, the Tiffin Invitational and Midwest Regional #1 tournament. Horn said that he has one of the deepest teams ever and bigger accomplishments could be in store for the squad as they enter the spring season. “In addition to our five starters, we are also taking everybody that is eligible to compete. There’s another two or three guys that could crack the lineup,” Horn said. “We are deeper than we’ve ever been.” Reid Dean, Favaro, Eric Johnson and brothers Alex and Tyler LaSerra each played all 11 rounds during the fall season. Johnson, a redshirt-senior, finished in the top 10 in four of the five fall events. WSU returns competitively to the course in mid-March. The end goal for the Warriors is competing as one of the top teams and reaching the finals at the NCAA Super Regional, held May 6-8 at Strawberry Creek in Kenosha, Wis. “I’m just proud of the guys that they realize that we haven’t accomplished anything yet,” Horn said. “They are very disappointed in our GLIAC finish. They are very proud of what we did in the fall, but the fall just got us in position. We’ve only made the finals two times in school history. We have a real good chance to do that this spring, but we have to play better than we ever have. They are all working to do that.”
By Athletic Director Rob Fournier
It took us awhile (actually 95 years) but the wait only added to the heightened atmosphere. Five playoff contests in a row culminating in the National Championship game broadcast across the country on ESPN. For Tartar or Warrior it was a magical run that for many long–suffering supporters was a measure of redemption and certainly a salute to school pride. The campus…and the city was different. About a week after that National Championship game folks started asking me a question that I had never heard before on this campus, “how good are we going to be next year?” An early promising signal was when head coach, Paul Winters, turned down a lucrative contract to continue to develop our program. That was a big step...but getting to a national championship takes a series of steps. And we all have to (pardon the expression) step up to continue that success. I am asking each supporter to give $95 dollars—basically one dollar for every year it took us to get to the NCAA postseason. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy to accept checks larger than that, but if each person after reading this note would take that five minutes and send in that amount it will go a long way to solidifying our future. Did you know that only 13 current NCAA institutions have competed in the Division II national championship game? That’s pretty select company. And traveling around the country gave us a better sense of the upgrades we need in order to stay at that elite level. You can get us there. Join us in that development. Help us keep moving forward. No one wants to wait another 95 years.
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