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President's Letter |
Women's Golf Team Ranked Second Nationally
At the end of the fall portion of its schedule, the women's golf team found itself ranked second in the nation, according to the Oct. 18, 2005 NCAA Division II national rankings by Golfstat, the official source for college golf scores and statistics. The Bulldogs, who compiled an 85-3 record last fall, were second to only three-time defending national champion Rollins College (Fla.). Ferris, which garnered first-place honors at the Ferris State Bulldog Invitational, Northwood Invitational and the Findlay William "Bing" Beall Classic last fall, also turned in noteworthy performances at a pair of NCAA Division I Tournaments coming in second out of 14 teams at the Ball State Cardinal Classic and third out of 14 teams at the Toledo Rocket Classic. "This national ranking continues to confirm us as one of the best teams in the country," said seventh-year Ferris State head coach Brad Bedortha. "The national recognition is a testament to the character of our kids." Individually, senior Elena Robles is currently ranked 107th of 250 individual golfers in the Golfstat Cup Standings. A two-time All-GLIAC First-Team selection and a 2003-04 second-team all-conference pick, Robles led the Bulldogs last fall season with a team-best 74.77 stroke average. She placed among the top five in as many tournaments and earned top individual medalist honors at three tourneys. Ferris State claimed fourth place at the 2005 NCAA-II Women's Golf Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. after recording the highest-placing ever for a Bulldog women's athletics team by tying for second place at the 2004 NCAA-II Championships in Longwood, Fla. To follow the spring portion of the team's schedule, go to www.ferris.edu/sports/golf/wgolf. Women Tennis Players Repeat Honors
Four women's tennis players received All-GLIAC recognition for the fall 2005 campaign. Junior Molly Basha and sophomore Leila Salek both claimed First Team honors while junior Marissa Muchow was a second-team pick. Junior Allison Halbert attained honorable mention accolades. Basha posted a 17-4 overall singles record during the fall campaign, including an 8-1 GLIAC mark at the number one singles flight. She also claimed runner-up singles recognition at the 2005 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Great Lakes Regional Championships. Basha, who was 14-4 overall in doubles play last fall season, currently is 51-15 in career singles matches and 46-13 all-time in doubles competition. Salek won 13 of her 15 singles matches last fall and was 8-1 in league singles competition during her second collegiate season. She also emerged victorious in 15 of 18 doubles matches. She won her final six singles matches to improve her overall career records to 32-3 (singles) and 37-8 (doubles). Muchow registered overall marks of 9-3 (singles) and 15-3 (doubles) in the fall campaign. In addition, she teamed up with Salek to win the doubles division at the ITA Great Lakes Regional Championships. The duo then advanced to the ITA National Small College Championships where they placed fifth overall in the Division II field at Fort Myers, Fla. Halbert tallied 5-2 singles and 6-1 doubles records last year. Halbert, who is presently 34-17 (singles) and 47-15 (doubles) during her career, compiled four league singles triumphs in five appearances. She also recorded a 4-1 singles record in dual matches. Ferris concluded their fall campaign with a 10-2 overall record under first-year head coach Jing "Amy" Sun. The Bulldogs, who have presently won 200 of their last 206 league regular-season matches, placed second overall at the 2005 GLIAC Championships for the third consecutive season after finishing regular-season action with a second place 8-1 league mark. To follow the team's spring progress, go to www.ferris.edu/sports/tennis/wtennis.htm. Irwin Turns in All-American Performance
Senior Jenny Irwin of the 2005 women's cross country team earned All-America honors with a 20th-place finish at the 25th annual NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country National Championships last November in Pomona, Calif. Irwin completed the 6K race in a time of 22:11.7 to become the first female women's cross country All-American in Bulldog history. Her performance also represented the highest finish ever for a Ferris performer at the Division II Women's Cross Country Championships. Irwin advanced individually to the national championships by virtue of her fourth place performance at the NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Championships held at Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids. Irwin completed the 6K regional course in a time of 21:45.1. 2005 marked the second consecutive year Irwin advanced to the national championships. She placed 46th overall in the 2004 event. The Bulldogs finished one spot short of qualifying as a team for the national championships, placing fifth in the regional event for the second consecutive year under 10th-year head coach Jeff Kavalunas. Ferris took third overall in the GLIAC Championships this season. Former Ferris Men's Basketball Duo Joins Pro Team
Guards Carlton and Corey Epps recently signed with the International Basketball League's expansion Holland Blast. The twins are among the franchise's first additions for the league's 2006 season. The IBL, which played its inaugural season in the spring and summer of 2005, is the newest professional basketball league designed around the concept of a faster, more skilled game. The Blast will be coached by Mike Ahrens and play their home games in the Holland Civic Center. The expansion team will join the Grand Rapids Flight as members of the 29-team league. Former Bulldog center Adam Anderson played for the Flight in the IBL's initial season last summer. "Carlton is a multi-talented player who will contribute at both ends of the floor," Ahrens said. "He has excellent shooting range and can create a running game. Corey will be called upon to defend some of the best players in the league. He's proven he can defend at the college level and I'm excited about his potential at this point in his career." The duo guided the Bulldog men's basketball team to a runner-up finish in the 2004-05 NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Tournament held in Findlay, Ohio. The Bulldogs also won their second-straight GLIAC North Division Championship and concluded the 2004-05 season with a 24-7 overall record. The team's 24 victories represented the third-most wins in school history. In addition to the Blast, Flight and Pros, the league has two other Michigan teams: the Battle Creek Knights and the Macomb County Mustangs. For more information about the Blast and the IBL, visit www.iblhoopsonline.com. PGM Students Receive Paul Runyan Scholarship
Professional Golf Management students Todd Griffin and Brian Jerred are two of the 10 national recipients of the 2005-06 Paul Runyan Collegiate Golf Management Scholarship. The Professional Golfers Association of America created the scholarship in memory of Paul Runyan, who died on March 17, 2002, at age 93. Runyan was a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and two-time winner of the PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championships. He was also chosen as one of Golf Magazine's Top 50 Teachers. Griffin, a 22-year-old from Shelby, received the 2004-05 Bulldog Award, which is presented annually to a men's golf team member who demonstrates the most dedication and hard work throughout the season. At the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Fall Regional Tournament I, Griffin led his team to a first place finish, which earned him his first top individual medalist honor. Jerred, a 23-year-old from Sioux Falls, S.D., was a test subject for a high-tech research study aimed at improving golfers' swings. The pre-shot routines and actual swings were recorded on GolfTEC's SEVAsystem, which features digital video, motion analysis and ball-flight projection. Established in 1975, the PGM program at Ferris was the first of its kind in the nation sanctioned by the PGA. The program is a joint venture with the PGA and is designed for students interested in a career in the golf industry as a PGA member. |
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Corey Epps 