2005-06 FERRIS STATE ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

The Ferris State men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf, volleyball, along with men's basketball teams all participated in NCAA Regional Tournament competition during the 2005-06 campaign. The women's golf team advanced to the NCAA-II Championships for the third consecutive year following regional action.

The Bulldog women's golf team claimed the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship during the 2005-06 athletics season. Four other teams (men's basketball, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's golf) earned conference runner-up honors.

Ferris State finished third in the 2005-06 GLIAC President's Trophy final standings. The Bulldogs totaled 103.5 points in the annual conference all-sports competition. FSU scored 39 points and 64.5 points in men's and women's sports, respectively. Fifteen different schools, including league associate members, were involved in the team race. The Bulldogs previously earned league runner-up honors each of the last two seasons.

Eleven FSU student-athletes earned All-Region honors this athletics season. In addition, the school had 10 different student-athletes earn All-America kudos in 2005-06.

FSU had a total of 57 student-athletes earn All-GLIAC honors in 2005-06, including 36 first-team selections and 11 second-team picks. Ten others claimed honorable mention kudos.

Ferris State student-athletes received GLIAC All-Academic laurels a combined 121 times. The fall season saw 54 athletes claim the distinction. FSU also had 31 and 36 student-athletes pick up the same recognition in the winter and spring seasons, respectively.

FSU's women's golf squad shot a tourney-best 300 team score in final-round action of the 2006 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships en route to claiming second place with a three-round 925-stroke total (+61) at The Meadows Golf Club course in Allendale, Mich. The Bulldogs finished six strokes behind national champion Rollins (Fla.), which registered a 919 score (+55) in the 54-hole tournament. The second-place finish represented the program's highest-placing ever and also the best ever in Ferris State Women's Athletics' history. Ferris has currently finished among the top four teams at the national championships each of the last three seasons.

Sixteen Ferris State student-athletes received GLIAC Player of the Week kudos on a combined 19 different occasions in 2005-06 while four different hockey players were afforded Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Player of the Week laurels seven times this year.

The Ferris State men's basketball team posted an 18-13 overall mark this year en route to making its second consecutive NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament berth under fourth-year head coach Bill Sall this campaign. FSU posted a second-place 13-5 mark in GLIAC North Division regular-season action after claiming back-to-back league crowns in 2003-04 and 2004-05. Ferris also received GLIAC Tournament runner-up accolades this season. The Bulldogs were also ranked nationally in the NABC Division II Top 25 Poll at various times this season.

Ferris' NCAA Division I men's ice hockey team advanced to the CCHA Tournament Quarterfinals in the 2005-06 campaign. FSU was undefeated in regular-season action during the 2005-06 season against in-state rivals Michigan and Michigan State while also being ranked among the nation's top 20 collegiate programs. Ferris State compiled a 17-15-8 overall record while posting a sixth-place tying 10-11-7 mark in the CCHA for the 2005-06 season.

Ferris State volleyball recorded the program's eighth consecutive winning campaign this year and the 2005 season marked the 25th-straight year the Bulldogs have reached double-figures in victories. Ferris also advanced to the GLIAC Tournament for the eighth year in a row this campaign while the squad's 22-10 mark represented the school's seventh 20-win season in the last eight years to date. Ferris State made the school's 13th overall NCAA Division II Tournament appearance this season.

The Bulldogs played host to both the 2005 NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Cross Country Championships along with the 2006 GLIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Five different men's and women's track athletes claimed indoor All-America recognition at the national meet. Women's Cross Country was also ranked nationally during the school year.

The Bulldog women's tennis team made its 11th consecutive and 16th overall NCAA Tournament appearance in 2005-06 under first-year head coach Jing "Amy" Sun. Ferris posted a 10-6 overall record this season, including a second-place 8-1 mark in the GLIAC. FSU also finished as the GLIAC Tournament and NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional runner-up this campaign.

The Ferris State men's golf team made its fourth consecutive NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional appearance this spring and the Bulldogs concluded the 2005-06 season with a seventh-place 902 team score at the postseason tournament. FSU garnered second place at the GLIAC Championships (Oct. 10-11) with a three-round 903-stroke total.

The Ferris State women's soccer team wrapped up its 2005 fall slate with a school-record tying 11 victories under head coach Melissa Lalonde. The school's top three seasonal performances have all came in the last three seasons under Lalonde, who ranks as the winningest coach in the program's history. The Bulldogs also recorded their first-ever victory over Mercyhurst during the 2005 campaign.

Ferris State softball concluded its 2006 season with a 26-26-0 overall record, which included a 10-10-0 GLIAC mark. The campaign represented the Bulldogs' 34th season of varsity competition. The Bulldogs finished tied for seventh place in the final overall conference standings.

The Bulldog men’s tennis team advanced to the NCAA-II Tournament for the ninth-straight year and 12th time in school history during the 2005-06 campaign under first-year head coach Dave Ramos. Ferris State, which was ranked 33rd in the final Fila Division II Collegiate National Rankings, placed second overall at the GLIAC Tournament this season. The Bulldogs recorded a 16-8 overall record, including a second-place 6-1 mark in league action.

Ferris State women's basketball wrapped up its 2005-06 season with an 18-10 overall record and made its seventh consecutive GLIAC Tournament appearance this campaign. FSU, which posted a third-place tying 12-6 mark in GLIAC North Division play this season, also registered its 10th consecutive season with 10 or more victories this campaign under eighth-year head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk.

The Ferris State women's cross country team captured fifth place at the 2005 NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Championships (Nov. 5) held on FSU’s Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Mich. The Bulldog women's team finished one spot short of qualifying as a team for the national championships for the second consecutive year. FSU also took third overall in the GLIAC Championships this season.

Senior Jenny Irwin became the first female women's cross country All-American in Bulldog history as she placed 20th in the NCAA-II Championships (Nov. 19) in Pomona, Calif. Her performance also represented the highest finish ever for a FSU women's performer at the Division II Women's Cross Country Championships. Irwin advanced individually to the national championships by virtue of her fourth place All-Great Lakes Region performance at the NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Championships held Nov. 5 on FSU's Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Mich.

Jenny Irwin was named the GLIAC's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year in voting conducted by the league's faculty-athletic representatives.

Senior flanker Carlton Brewster of the Bulldog football team signed a free agent contract with the NFL's Cleveland Browns. Brewster concluded his collegiate career in 2005 by garnering three different All-America honors. He was named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America Team, the Associated Press (AP) Little All-America Second Team, and the D2Football.com Honorable Mention All-America Team. In addition, he was also chosen to compete in the sixth annual Whataburger Cactus Bowl Division II All-Star Game (Jan. 6) in Kingsville, Texas. For his career, Brewster ranks second among Ferris' all-time receiving leaders with 3,184 career receiving yards and 25 TD’s on 234 receptions in 43 outings.

Forward Matt Stefanishion of the Ferris State hockey team, who completed his sophomore season in 2005-06, signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals.

Senior goaltender Tom Mueller of the FSU men's ice hockey team was selected an alternate for the inaugural NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge, which was held April 7, 2006, at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wis.

Senior Elena Robles of the Ferris State University women's golf team was selected as the 2005-06 GLIAC Women's Golf Athlete of the Year. The honor came after the senior helped Ferris capture the 2006 GLIAC Championships title by finishing second place on the individual leaderboard with a three-round 221-stroke total. Robles was also among four Bulldogs to receive first-team All-GLIAC accolades as she was joined by sophomores Missy Ward and Becky Hoffman along with junior Casey McKinnon. Freshman Raquel Hansen earned All-GLIAC Second-Team plaudits and freshman Meghan Hunter attained honorable mention all-conference laurels.

Ferris State seventh-year head coach Brad Bedortha was honored as the GLIAC Women's Golf Coach of the Year for the third time in his career. Bedortha previously received the award in 2000-01 and 2002-03. He was honored as the National Golf Coaches Association's (NGCA) National Coach of the Year in 2004-05.

Two members of the Ferris State University's women's golf team were named to the 2005-06 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-America teams for NCAA Division II Women's Collegiate Golf. Elena Robles earned second-team All-America accolades for the second straight year while Casey McKinnon was named to the All-America Honorable Mention squad for the second time in her collegiate career. Missy Ward earned a spot on this year's five-member All-East Region Team.

Senior guard Dennis Springs of the 2005-06 Ferris State men's basketball team claimed National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Great Lakes Region All-District First Team accolades. A 2005-06 Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region Second Team pick, Springs also was named to the All-GLIAC North Division First Team, GLIAC North Division All-Defensive Team and GLIAC All-Academic Team. He was chosen as the Grand Rapids Press' West Michigan Player of the Year.

In addition to Dennis Springs, the Bulldog men's basketball team also had two other All-GLIAC honorees as senior Antwuan Holt and junior Terrance Shaw were chosen as second-team picks in the GLIAC North Division.

The Bulldog hockey team claimed home ice for the first round of the CCHA Playoffs for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign. The Bulldogs won back-to-back games against Ohio State to clinch the first-round CCHA Playoff series.

FSU hockey senior center-right wing Greg Rallo was among 193 collegiate hockey players who advanced to the Preliminary Voting Phase in the 2006 Vote For The Hobey Baker Award as college's hockey top player.

The Ferris State University men’s ice hockey’s incoming freshmen class for the 2005-06 season was ranked 10th best among the nation’s top 15 recruiting classes according to Inside College Hockey.com’s (INCH) 2005 Recruiting Rankings.

Senior Mark Hammelman and freshman Brenton Bacon of the 2005-06 Ferris State University men’s tennis team were named to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II All-America Team. Bacon was honored in both the singles and doubles categories this season while Hammelman attained recognition for his doubles play. The duo finished third in final national doubles rankings while Bacon was listed 14th nationally in singles action.

Brenton Bacon, who was honored as the ITA's National Rookie Player of the Year this campaign, earned 2006 All-GLIAC First Team kudos for the Bulldog men's tennis team. He also received the ITA’s 2006 Great Lakes Region Rookie Player of the Year Award honor along with being recognized as the GLIAC Freshman of the Year.

Brenton Bacon and senior Mark Hammelman both earned All-GLIAC First Team honors in men's tennis while senior Kyle Halberg received second-team kudos. In addition, Bacon was honored as the league's Freshman of the Year Award recipient.

The Ferris State University men’s and women’s cross country squads, under the direction of 10th-year head coach Jeff Kavalunas, both earned 2005 NCAA Division II All-Academic Team honors as chosen and announced by the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Ferris State women’s team garnered team academic laurels for the eighth consecutive season as a result of posting a 3.19 team gpa. The Bulldog men's squad was one of 60 teams selected with a 3.12 gpa. The FSU men have presently earned all-academic team laurels six consecutive seasons to date. Jenny Irwin was an individual all-academic team member on the women's side.

FSU's women's indoor track squad compiled six points at this year's national meet after placing fifth of nine competing teams with 59.50 points at the GLIAC Indoor Championships. The Bulldog women's outdoor track and field team finished sixth with 75 points at the league outdoor championships this season.

Senior Jenny Irwin of the Ferris State University women's track and field/cross country squad was recognized as an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV College Division Women's Track/Cross Country First-Team selection for the 2005-06 season.

Jenny Irwin picked up All-America accolades in the final day of action (May 27) at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Emporia State's (Kan.) Zola Witten Track inside Fran Welch Stadium at Emporia, Kan. She took fourth place overall (4:38.11) in the 1,500 meters in her final collegiate race. This year marked the second consecutive year Irwin picked up All-America honors in the 1,500 meters as she posted a fourth-place finish in the event (4:30.60) at the 2005 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships (May 26-28) held at Abilene Christian University's Elmer Gray Stadium in Abilene, Texas. This season also represented Irwin's third consecutive appearance in the NCAA-II Outdoor Championships.

Ferris' men's cross country squad placed ninth at the league championships and 17th in the regional field during the fall 2005 campaign.

Three members of the 2005-06 Ferris State University men's golf team earned post-season honors from the GLIAC. A pair of juniors, Kyle Mason and Jeff Carlson made the All-GLIAC First Team while senior Derek Radley garnered second-team all-conference recognition for the second straight season.

Ferris State hockey freshman center Dan Riedel (Rochester Hills) was named to the 2005-06 CCHA All-Rookie Team.

Greg Rallo of the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team was afforded the Bulldogs' 2005-06 CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. Rallo was among 12 outstanding student-athletes to have been designated as their team's 2005-06 Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the CCHA.

Ferris State hockey's opening-round home CCHA playoff game against Ohio State (March 3) was a significant one as the FSN Detroit regionally televised contest represented the first live telecast from FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena in 20 years. The last Ferris home game to be televised live dated back to Oct. 17, 1986, when the Bulldogs suffered a 3-2 league loss to Michigan State. The Bulldogs appeared on FSN Detroit an unprecedented three-straight times this campaign as they were originally featured on CCHA's Game of the Week at Michigan (Feb. 25) in the 2005-06 regular season finale along with being part of the live March 10 telecast against the nationally-ranked Wolverines in game one of a best-of-three CCHA Playoff Quarterfinal-Round series at UM's Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Sophomore Joe Mielke qualified for the 2006 NCAA-II Indoor Track and Field Championships (March 10-11) in Boston, Mass., where he earned All-America recognition with a fourth-place performance (6-11) in the high jump. He became the first male student-athlete to represent Ferris State at a national championship meet since the program was reinstated in 1999 and the school's first men's All-American since 1993.

The Ferris State men's cross country squad placed ninth at this year's league championships with 268 points. The Bulldogs were eighth at the GLIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships before placing ninth overall at the conference outdoor meet. Joe Mielke led the men's squad with a runner-up effort in the high jump (6-6.75) and a fifth place finish in the long jump (21-2.50) at the 2006 GLIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Junior guard Erin Miller of the 2005-06 Ferris State women's basketball team received Daktronics Division II All-Great Lakes Region Second Team accolades. Miller was named to the All-GLIAC First Team while FSU junior guard Kristin Reinhart received second-team All-GLIAC North Division kudos for the second-straight campaign.

Erin Miller was recognized as an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV College Division Women's Basketball First-Team selection. Miller was the lone representatives from a GLIAC-member school named to any of the three District IV teams. The 2005-06 campaign represented the sixth consecutive season in which Ferris State has had a women's basketball player named to the Academic All-District IV First-Team.

The Ferris State women's basketball squad squared off against NCAA Division I Notre Dame in an exhibition contest (Nov. 10) at the Joyce Center in South Bend, Ind. The Fighting Irish, who are ranked 15th in the Associated Press Division I Preseason Poll, jumped out to a 41-24 halftime advantage and outscored the Bulldogs 55-21 in the final half. FSU scored the game's opening five points and remained within striking distance for most the of the opening half before the Irish went on to post the 96-45 victory.

Ferris opened the women's basketball season with a 2-0 mark by capturing the McCarthy & Sons Aquinas College Classic Nov. 18-19) in Grand Rapids, Mich. FSU defeated Indiana-South Bend 72-47 in Friday’s (Nov. 18) opener before defeating host Aquinas 90-83 in Saturday’s (Nov. 19) title contest. FSU had three players named to the McCarthy & Sons Aquinas College Classic All-Tournament Team. Kristin Reinhart earned tournament Most Valuable Player Award recognition while Erin Miller and sophomore forward/center Rachel Folcik both attained all-tournament team kudos.

Senior midfielder Jen Gaylor of the 2005 Ferris State University women's soccer team tallied National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Great Lakes Region Second Team kudos. A 2005 All-GLIAC First-Team pick, Gaylor also became the first player in the seven-year history of the FSU women's soccer program to attain all-region recognition.

Ferris State University softball team members Emily McLean, Lindsay Riskovitch, Jessica Jaroniewski, and Carissa Quider were members of the GLIAC's all-league teams. McLean, the 2005 GLIAC Player of the Year, was a repeat first-team selection while Riskovitch achieved second-team honors. Jaroniewski and Quider were named to the honorable mention team.

For the second consecutive season, Ferris State University softball's Emily McLean picked up 2006 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region First Team laurels.

Four Ferris State University women's tennis players received All-GLIAC recognition for the fall 2005 campaign. Junior Molly Basha and sophomore Leila Salek both claimed All-GLIAC First Team honors while junior Marissa Muchow was a second-team pick. Junior Allison Halbert attained honorable mention accolades.

Ferris State University junior women's tennis player Jenna O'Dell was chosen as the recipient of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) Great Lakes Region Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award. The honor was announced in conjunction with the NCAA-II Men's and Women's Tennis Championships, which took place (May 10-13) in Kansas City, Mo.

The Ferris State University women's tennis doubles tandem of Marissa Muchow and sophomore Leila Salek took part in the 2005 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Small College Championships, one of collegiate athletics' most unique events, Oct. 13-16, at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla. They placed fifth overall in the Division II field. Muchow and Salek advanced to the ITA National Small College Championships with a victory in the final match of the ITA Great Lakes Region Championships (Sept. 16-18) at the Midland Community Tennis Center in Midland, Mich.

Sophomore Kamitra Carroll of the 2005-06 Ferris State University women's track and field team was honored as the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Women's Indoor Field Event Athlete Of The Year as announced by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Ferris State University men's and women's track and field program brought home All-America honors in three different events from the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships held March 10-11 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston, Mass. The Bulldog contigent competing at the national meet included seniors Jenny Irwin and Leanna Wolf along with sophomores Chandra Robinson, Kamitra Carroll, Joe Mielke and freshman Mikinzie Stuart. Irwin earned All-America laurels with a fourth-place overall finish in the mile run. Mielke, too, earned All-America recognition as he finished fourth in the high jump. The school's distance medley relay team of Wolf, Stuart, Robinson and Irwin placed eighth overall in a time of 11:50.40 to earn All-America accolades.

FSU's Jenny Irwin picked up the GLIAC's Most Valuable Running Event Athlete Award for her performance at the GLIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships (May 4-5) held at FSU's Top Taggart Field. Irwin captured both the 800 and 1,500-meter races at the league outdoor meet.

Two members of the 2005 Ferris State University women’s volleyball team, junior outside hitter Danielle Baucher and senior libero Brittny Godlewski, both received All-Great Lakes Region accolades from two different sources. Baucher and Godlewski were among seven individuals garnering second-team 2005 Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region kudos. In addition, they both were named honorable mention American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Great Lakes Region picks for the 2005 campaign.

Four Ferris State University women's volleyball players received All-GLIAC recognition for the 2005 campaign. Danielle Baucher and junior middle hitter Karla White both received first-team all-conference kudos. Brittny Godlewski was named to the second-team for the second consecutive year while senior middle hitter Lauren Heine was an honorable mention selection.

Ferris State hockey took third place overall in the Mutual of Omaha Maverick Stampede (Oct. 14-15) at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. The Bulldogs dropped a 4-2 decision to nationally-ranked New Hampshire in the opener before downing Army 5-2 in the consolation game. Junior left wing Matt Verdone was named to the all-tournament team.

Bulldog hockey also claimed third place at the 14th annual Wells Fargo Denver Cup (Dec. 30-31) in Denver, Colo. Ferris recorded a 3-2 triumph over nationally-ranked host Dever in the third-place game after skating to a 3-3 overtime tie versus Boston College in the opening round. Greg Rallo was named to the all-tourney squad.

Ferris State University football junior middle linebacker Mike Klobucher was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV College Division Football first team.

Quarterback Ryan Kaul earned Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette Offensive Player of the Week laurels along with GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his notable effort in the Bulldogs' 62-42 conference home win over Northern Michigan at FSU's Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Mich.

The Ferris State women’s basketball squad was honored for the seventh consecutive season as one of the nation’s top academic programs in the 2005-06 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll list. FSU placed 20th overall in the annual listing.

The Ferris State women's track and field squad, under the direction of 10th-year head coach Jeff Kavalunas, was honored by the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as a 2006 All-Academic Team in an announcement made by the USTFCCCA. In addition, senior distance runners Jenny Irwin and Leanna Wolf also were honored individually as 2006 Division II USTFCCCA Women's All-Academic Team members.

Four members of the 2005-06 national runner-up Ferris State women's golf team were named to the 2005-06 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-America Scholar Team. The group consisted of freshman Raquel Hansen, sophomore Becky Hoffman, junior Casey McKinnon and sophomore Missy Ward.

A pair of Ferris State men's golfers were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements as juniors Jeff Carlson and Kyle Mason were among those selected as Division II Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-America Scholars Committee.