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West Virginia U University

Department of Intercollegiate Athletics ANN 2008-09 Table of Contents

Mission Statement 1 Message from Director of Athletics 2 Year in Review 3 Individual Awards 4 Cup 10 Award 11 12 Men’s 14 Women’s Basketball 16 Cross Country 18 Football 20 Gymanstics 22 Rifle 24 Rowing 25 Men’s Soccer 26 Women’s Soccer 28 Men’s and Women’s Swimming 30 Tennis 31 Track 32 Volleyball 33 Wrestling 34 Development Council/Corporate Partners 35 MAC Report 36 Staff IBC Mission Statement The University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics fully subscribes to and will conscientiously abide by the rules, regulations and statutes of those organizations and agencies having jurisdiction over the conduct of its athletics program. Specifically, the WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will adhere to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Principles of Conduct of Intercollegiate Athletics set forth in the NCAA Constitution and all regulations thereto in its then applicable bylaws.

The WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics:

a: Subscribes to high standards of academic quality as well as breadth of academic opportunities.

b: Strives in its athletics program for national excellence and prominence. Accordingly, the recruitment of student-athletes and emphasis on and support of athletics are national in scope.

c: Recognizes the dual objective in its athletic program of servicing the University community and the general public.

d: Believes in offering extensive opportunities for varsity intercollegiate athletics for men, women and minorities.

e: Sponsors football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s gymnastics and women’s soccer at the highest feasible level of competition.

f: Believes in scheduling all athletic contests primarily with other Division I institutions as a reflection of the goal of maintaining an appropriate competition level in the sports program.

g: Is committed to financing the athletics program from private revenues generated by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. All revenues supporting athletics shall be controlled by the institution.

h: Considers the physical, mental, social and academic well-being of the student-athletes paramount.

The WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics shall conduct its program consistent with the letter and spirit of the NCAA. The mission of the Department is and shall Be a Mountaineer always remain compatible with the mission of WVU.

1 Message from the Director of Athletics

Dear Friend of Intercollegiate Athletics,

The 2008-09 athletic season brought much success to Mountaineer Intercollegiate Athletics on and off the playing fields and our student- athletes turned in spectacular performances. On behalf of the entire department, I am pleased to present you this Annual Report. This report will highlight a year of outstanding accomplishments by our teams, student- athletes and coaches. The fall season saw our football team finish second in the BIG EAST, advance to its seventh-straight bowl game and capture its fourth-straight bowl victory – the longest such streak in school history. We said goodbye to one of our greatest football players of all time - Pat White, who left us the NCAA’s all-time career rushing leader. He was 4-0 as a starting quarterback in bowl games, a first in NCAA history. Cross country finished fourth nationally marking its highest ever finish in school history led by All-Americans Marie-Louise Asselin and state native Keri Bland. Women’s soccer continued its run of excellence with its ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and captured the BIG EAST’s American Division championship in the process. Winter saw the rifle team capture its 14th NCAA National Championship and first since 1998. Jon Hammond was named the NRA’s National Coach of the Year after guiding WVU to an 11-1 record. Men’s basketball advanced to the BIG EAST Championship semifinals for the second consecutive season and reached the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last five years. Senior guard was the BIG EAST Scholar Athlete of the Year, the winner of the league’s Sportsmanship Award and was named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America national first team. Women’s basketball advanced to postseason play for the fifth time in the last six years and advanced to the WNIT second round. Wrestler Kurt Brenner won an EWL championship at 174 pounds and WVU sent five national qualifiers to NCAA. Men’s and women’s swimming and diving had four BIG EAST individual champions and four NCAA qualifiers. Gymnastics coach Linda Burdette became the first WVU coach to record 600 career victories and the Mountaineers qualified for their 26th NCAA Regional in the last 27 seasons. State native Mehgan Morris was a national qualifier at NCAAs. During the indoor track season, Bland was named the BIG EAST’s Most Outstanding Performer and the squad sent six qualifiers to NCAAs. In the spring, baseball’s 37 victories were the most since 1998 and the squad set the school record in batting average, RBIs, doubles, extra base hits and runs. Outdoor track sent three athletes to NCAAs while Clara Grandt earned All-America honors in the 10,000 meter run. Success wasn’t limited solely to the fields of play, eight Mountaineers garnered national academic accolades while more than 100 Mountaineers earned all-conference academic honors. And I can’t be more proud of this year’s Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll recipients as more than 400 student-athletes were named to the list with at least a 3.0 GPA. In closing, I want to thank you for your continued support of the WVU intercollegiate athletic program. It provides the foundation for our student-athletes’ success in the classroom and on the field. For that, we are sincerely grateful.

Sincerely,

Ed Pastilong Director of Athletics West Virginia University

2 Year in Review Baseball 37-18 Men’s 23-12 Basketball NCAA Tournament Women’s 18-15 Basketball WNIT Second Round Cross Country 4th place NCAA finish Football 9-4 Meineke Car Care Bowl Champions (No. 23 Final AP Ranking) Gymnastics 15-8 1 NCAA Qualifier Rifle 11-1 National Champions Rowing 8th BIG EAST Men’s 5-9-5 Soccer Women’s 14-3-6 Soccer NCAA Second Round Men’s 4-10 Swimming 4th BIG EAST 1 NCAA Qualifier Women’s 4-11 Swimming 5th BIG EAST 3 NCAA Qualifiers Tennis 9-17 Track 6 NCAA Indoor Qualifiers 3 NCAA Outdoor Qualifiers Rifle Team Volleyball 7-21 National Champions Wrestling 8-4-2 5 NCAA qualifiers

3 First Team Individual All-Americans Awards

Marie Louise-Asselin Keri Bland Carolyn Blank Brandi Eskew Cross Country Cross Country women’s soccer rifle

pat mcafee

Clara Grandt Andy Lamson Outdoor track rifle

Pat McAfee Kyle Smith football rifle

Bryant Wallizer Pat White 4 rifle football Individual Conference Champions

BIG EAST Champions

Kayla Andrews Marie Louise-Asselin Morgan Callaway women’s swimming Cross Country women’s swimming

Lindsey Largo Michael Walker women’s swimming men’s swimming

Eastern Wrestling League Champion

Women’s Soccer BIG EAST Champions American Division

Kurt Brenner 174 Pounds

East Atlantic Gymnastics League Champions

Tina Maloney Mehgan Morris Shelly Purkat Chelsi Tabor vault all-around, bars, floor beam vault 5 Academic Individual Honors Awards

ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team Second Team Third Team

Alex Ruoff Doug Slavonic Marie-Louise Asselin Andy Lamson men’s football cross country/ rifle basketball track

ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team Second Team

Marie-Louise Asselin Andy Lamson Liz Repella Keri Bland Deanna Everett cross country/ rifle women’s cross country/ women’s Track basketball track soccer

Alex Ruoff Doug Slavonic Ryan Stanchek Robin Rushton men’s football football women’s basketball soccer

6 NACGC/W Scholastic All-America

Heather Izer Stephanie Keaton Shelly Purkat Kiersten Spoerke

EAGL All-Academic

Amy Bieski Heather Izer Naja Johnson Stephanie Keaton

Tina Maloney Faye Meaden Shelly Purkat Nicole Roach

Jenn Sharon Kiersten Spoerke Chelsi Tabor

Erica Watson Ashley Wilson Jessica Young 7 Major Award Individual Winners Awards

Keri Bland Carolyn Blank Morgan Callaway Women’s Indoor Track Women’s soccer Women’s swimming men’s soccer BIG EAST Most BIG EAST Midfielder BIG EAST Most NCBWA District II Outstanding Performer of the Year Outstanding Performer Player of the Year

Zach Johnson Sarah Miles Mehgan Morris Alex Ruoff men’s soccer women’s basketball gymnastics men’s basketball BIG EAST BIG EAST EAGL Outstanding BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award Goalkeeper of the Year Most Improved Player Senior Gymnast and BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year

pat white and george foreman

Pat White football Meineke Car Care Bowl and Senior Bowl MVP

8 All-BIG EAST All-Mid Atlantic Alexandra Acker, Track and Field Marie-Louise Asselin, Cross Country Kayla Andrews, Swimming and Diving Greer Barnes, Women’s Soccer Marie-Louise Asselin, Cross Country Keri Bland, Cross Country Greer Barnes, Women’s Soccer Kaylyn Christoper, Cross Country Vince Belnome, Baseball Amanda Cicchini, Women’s Soccer Scooter Berry, Football Clara Grandt, Cross Country Keri Bland, Cross Country, Caroyln Blank, Women’s Soccer Track and Field Kate Harrison, Cross Country Carolyn Blank, Women’s Soccer and Ahna Lewis, Cross Country all-tournament Payton Brooks, Swimming and Diving Da’Sean Butler, Men’s Basketball All-East Atlantic Morgan Callaway, Swimming and Diving Gymnastics League Chelsea Carrier, Track and Field Mehgan Morris Kaylin Christoper, Track and Field Amy Bieski Amanda Cicchini, Women’s Soccer Naja Johnson Mike Dent, Football Kiersten Spoerke , Football Chelsi Tabor Dan DiBartolomeo, Baseball Shelly Purkat , Men’s Basketball Nicole Roach Chris Enourato, Baseball Emily Kerwin Deanna Everett, Women’s Soccer Tina Maloney zach johnson George Farquhar, Swimming and Diving Takisha Granberry, Women’s Basketball Clara Grandt, Cross Country All-Great American Billy Gross, Baseball Jedd Gyorko, Baseball Rifle Conference Kate Harrison, Track and Field Brandi Eskew Erica Henderson, Women’s Soccer Michael Kulbacki (all-tournament) Andy Lamson Mortty Ivy, Football Justin Pentz Zach Johnson, Men’s Soccer Tommy Santelli Sarah Kosmak, Swimming and Diving Kyle Smith Ellis Lankster, Football Bryant Wallizer Lindsey Largo, Swimming and Diving Austin Markel, Baseball and all-tournament Pablo Marmolejo, Swimming and Diving Gift Maworere, Men’s Soccer Pat McAfee, Football (Punter and Kicker) Blake Miller, Women’s Soccer Megan Mischler, Women’s Soccer Maritza Paredes, Swimming and Diving Justin Parks, Baseball Shaunna Purtell, Swimming and Diving Liz Repella, Women’s Basketball April Rotilio, Track and Field Alex Ruoff, Men’s Basketball Jock Sanders, Football morgan callaway Stephanie Shupe, Swimming and Diving Alison Spiker, Track and Field Ryan Stanchek, Football Tobias Streich, Baseball Jaryn Studer, Swimming and Diving Jarryd Summers, Baseball Michael Walker, Swimming and Diving Pat White, Football

9 Red Brown Cup

Junior track and field runner Marie-Louise Asselin and senior offensive physiology. An ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II first lineman Ryan Stanchek were selected as the recipients of the 2009 team honoree, she was also named to the all-academic team by the Red Brown Cup, presented annually to West Virginia University’s most U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. She also outstanding all-around student-athletes. volunteers her time with the West Virginia Flyers Indoor Track Club that trains middle and high school children in the sport of track at the Jerry The Red Brown Cup encompasses the student-athlete’s athletic, Lewis telethon, which benefits multiple sclerosis research. academic and civic achievement. Stanchek, a , Ohio, native, was a four-year starter at left A three-year letterwinner and a native of Sarnia, Ontario, Asselin earned tackle for the Mountaineers. His 45 career starts are second most in All-America honors for the second-consecutive year after guiding the school history, and he was a member of the most successful senior cross country team to a fourth-place finish in the 2008 NCAA Cross class in school history (42-9). A two-time-time Walter Camp Football Country Championship. She became WVU’s first ever individual BIG Foundation All-American and an All-BIG EAST first-team performer, EAST individual cross country champion last fall. She finished third Stanchek helped the Mountaineers to Top 25 rankings for 49 weeks, 29 in the 3,000-meter race with a time of 9:22.05 at the BIG EAST Indoor of those in the Top 10. Championships this season and she ran anchor for the distance medley relay team that took 10th place at the NCAA Indoor Championships. In the classroom, Stanchek is a two-time ESPN The Magazine All- District selection, a member of the WVU Athletic Director’s Academic Asselin is a member of the WVU Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Honor Roll and is a BIG EAST Academic All-Star while obtaining his Roll and is a BIG EAST Academic All-Star with a 3.73 GPA in exercise bachelor’s degree in physical education with a 3.5 GPA. He will earn his master’s degreein special education this summer.

In the community, Stanchek has spoken to youth about staying in school and avoiding drugs and has visited children in local hospitals.

The award is in memory of Robert “Red” Brown, former WVU coach and athletic director. Past winners of the Red Brown Cup: Jim Bishop, rifle (1988); Tracey Thompson, volleyball (1989); Don DeCarlo, track (1990); Scott Collins, wrestling (1991); Rosemary Kosiorek, basketball (1992); Mike Compton, football (1993); Rich Braham, football (1994); Lajuanda Moody, gymnastics (1994); Bob Donker, track (1995); Lisa Szymczak, basketball (1996); Kristin Quackenbush, gymnastics (1996- 97); Charity Wachera, track (1998); Eric deGroh, football (1999); Rebecca Burbridge, basketball (1999); Greg Robinette, football (2000); Steve Bohan, track (2001); Krista Smith, volleyball (2002); Amanda Halovanic, gymnastics (2003); Chrissie Abbott, soccer (2004); Greg Jones, wrestling (2004-05); , basketball (2006); Karrie Hutchins, soccer (2006); Janáe Cox, gymnastics (2007); Jay Henry, football (2007); Nick Delic, swimming (2008); Kailee Goold (volleyball).

10 Fred Schaus Award

Women’s track and field captain Keri Bland and football captain Pat The 2007-09 West Virginia and Alabama Amateur White were selected as this year’s recipients of the 2009 Fred Schaus Athlete of the Year, White is a member of the Captain’s Award, presented annually to West Virginia University’s most WVU Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll outstanding varsity team captains. and a BIG EAST Academic All-Star. A true role model to all in the state, White spoke to school- The winner must display outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, aged children about the importance of staying representing WVU well in all aspects. Winners are selected by the in school and staying away from drugs and WVU Athletic Council. alcohol. He also visited children’s hospitals.

A Fairview, W.Va., native, Bland captained the women’s cross country The award was started to honor the team to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, marking the retirement of Fred Schaus, who had school’s highest finish in the event. She became WVU’s first female in outstanding success as a Mountaineer school history to earn All-America honors in three sports in the same basketball player, coach and athletic year in 2008 (cross country, indoor and outdoor track). This year, Bland director. Past winners of the Fred placed 13th at the NCAA Indoor Championship in the mile and anchored Schaus Captain’s Award: Herbie Brooks, the distance medley relay team that took first place with a WVU record basketball (1989); Tammie DeAngelis, time of 11:05.12. rifle (1990); Aileen Convery, swimming (1991); Ann-Marie Pfiffner, rifle (1992); Bland also was named the 2009 BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Garett Smith, rifle (1993); Dean Morrison, Championship’s Most Outstanding Performer after setting a BIG EAST wrestling (1994); Jean Foster, and school record in the mile with a time of 4:34.78. rifle (1995); Seldon Jefferson, basketball (1996); Sandy A member of the WVU Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll and a Shumate, volleyball (1996); BIG EAST Academic All-Star, Bland is involved in several community Charles Emanuel, football (1997); service initiatives such as volunteer coaching with the West Virginia Marcos Scrivner, rifle (1998); Flyers Indoor Track Club, volunteering with the Shawn Foreman, football Jerry Lewis Telethon to benefit multiple sclerosis (1999); Jessica Nonnemacher, and being a volunteer reader at Brookhaven gymnastics (2000); Katie Elementary school. Barnes, soccer (2001); Kyle Kayden, football (2002); Avon White, a Daphne, Ala., native, set 25 WVU, Cobourne, football (2003); Merissa BIG EAST and national records during Sexsmith, cross country/track his illustrious career and captained the (2003); Grant Wiley, football (2004); Mountaineers during his senior campaign. Kate Bulger, basketball (2004); A three-time all-BIG EAST first- Rasheed Marshall, football (2005); team selection, White guided the Laura Kane, soccer (2005); J.D. Mountaineers to their fourth straight Collins, basketball (2006); Susan bowl victory with a Meineke Car Care Davis, cross country/track (2006); Bowl victory over North Carolina, thus Jessica Czaikowski (2007); Dan becoming the first starting quarterback Mozes (2007); Ashley Banks, in NCAA history to lead his team to soccer (2008); Darris Nichols, four straight bowl wins. Along the way, basketball (2008). he captured the NCAA’s all-time career quarterback rushing mark with 4,480 yards. He set the BIG EAST’s career touchdowns responsible for mark with 103 and set the conference standard in total offense, becoming the first player in league history to amass more than 10,000 yards in a career (10,529). He was named team MVP for the third consecutive time in 2008. 11 Jarryd summers

austin markel 37-18Baseball • Finished third in the BIG EAST • Finished 23-5 at Hawley Field, • Earned a No. 26 national ranking during the regular season after the second best home winning from the Collegiate Baseball Poll being picked seventh in the percentage (.821) in WVU history. on April 13, the highest position Preseason BIG EAST Coaches’ Poll The Mountaineers were 10-2 at in the poll since a No.16 ranking home in conference play. at the end of the 1982 season • 37 victories tied the 1998 team for the most wins in a season since • Possessed three .400 hitters in Dan • Had three players in Vince becoming a member of the BIG DiBartolomeo (.439), Jedd Gyorko Belnome, Austin Markel and EAST in 1996. (.421) and Vince Belnome (.418) for the Justin Parks who eclipsed the first time in program history (minimum 200 career hit mark, the • Tallied a school-record nine of 100 at-bats) first time three WVU all-BIG EAST players, the most players have joined the in the conference • Went 2-0 against Southeastern illustrious club in the Conference opponents Tennessee same season • Set the school record for batting (11-6) and Kentucky (10-7) at neutral average (.360), RBIs (491), doubles site locations • Held a 10-8 record (161), extra base hits (242) and in the regular season runs (525) • Clinched its highest seed (No. 3) against conference at the BIG EAST Tournament since tournament qualifiers • Posted 17 wins in the BIG EAST earning a No. 2 seed in 2003 USF, St. John’s, Notre during the regular season, the Dame, Connecticut, second highest total in school • Set a BIG EAST Tournament single- Pitt and Cincinnati history behind the 2003 squad’s game record against Pitt with 20 18-6 conference mark runs in a 20-8 win on May 21

• Ended the regular season as the • Had four National Watch List nation’s leader in sacrifice bunts candidates in catcher Tobias and doubles, as well as holding Streich, Jedd Gyorko, the country’s third highest reliever Chris Enourato and starting batting average right-hander Jarryd Summers

12 Vince Belnome All-BIG EAST Second Team College Baseball Foundation National All-Star Lineup (May 12) Jedd ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region Second Team Drafted by the in the 28th round Gyorko Dan DiBartolomeo All-BIG EAST Third Team After enjoying one of the best freshman seasons ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region First Team in school history in 2008, Jedd Gyorko backed ECAC First Team All-Star up his fast start with an even better campaign in his sophomore year. Chris Enourato All-BIG EAST Third Team The Morgantown native was the team’s No. 3 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Watch List member batter all season, batting .421 with eight home ECAC First Team All-Star runs, 58 RBIs and a single season school record 28 doubles, which also ranked among the Billy Gross nation’s leaders. All-BIG EAST Third Team ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region Second Team Gyorko also led one of the country’s best offenses in total bases (151) and hits (96). Garnering plenty Jedd Gyorko of national attention heading into the 2009 season, All-BIG EAST First Team the all-BIG EAST first team player continued to hit Semifinalist at a blistering pace despite seeing less pitches to Second Team Louisville Slugger All-American hit. He also led the team with 31 multi-hit games, NCBWA District II Player of the Year posted 15 multi-RBI games and heads into next Pro-Line Athletic/NCBWA Third Team All-American season carrying a 14-game . ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region Second Team Playing for the of the While he helped shoulder the load for an Summer League offense that set the school record with a .360 batting average, Gyorko also made a tremendous transition in Austin Markel the infield - moving from second base to shortstop. The former All-BIG EAST Third Team University High standout routinely devoured any hard-hit balls BIG EAST Player of the Week (April 13) that came his way, even going through a stretch of 19 games in BIG EAST All-Tournament Team which he did not commit an . Justin Parks For his nationally-renowned efforts, Gyorko was selected as All-BIG EAST First Team ECAC Second Team All-Star a Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist, making him one of five players to earn recognition as the nation’s best shortstop. He is Tobias Streich the only member of the BIG EAST to make the prestigious list. All-BIG EAST First Team Johnny Bench Award Watch List member The enigmatic team leader will spend the summer playing for Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod League -- the most competitive collegiate baseball league in the country. If he Jarryd Summers continues to raise his game throughout the summer and into the All-BIG EAST First Team fall, then Gyorko could be an early favorite for the BIG EAST Player BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week (March 9) of the Year Award as the 2010 season approaches. College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year Watch List member ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region First Team ECAC Second Team All-Star

13 da’sean butler

MEN’S Basketball 23-12 • Reached the NCAA Tournament for • Da’Sean Butler was named to the • Ruoff set the WVU school record the second year in a row and the all-BIG EAST second team, Devin for 3- field goals with 261 and fourth time in the last five seasons Ebanks was named to the BIG set the game 3-point record with EAST rookie team and the BIG nine against Radford. • Advanced to the semifinals of the EAST all-tournament team and BIG EAST Championship for the Alex Ruoff was named honorable • Posted its fifth consecutive 20-win second year in a row and third time mention all-conference. season. The last time WVU had in the last five seasons five 20-win seasons or more was a • Ruoff won the BIG EAST seven-year stretch from 1981-87. • Bob Huggins made his 17th Division I Sportsmanship award and was NCAA Tournament appearance. named BIG EAST men’s basketball •  won his 639th game He is tied for fifth for most NCAA Scholar Athlete of the Year. against Pitt, ranking 25th on the Tournament appearances among NCAA Division I all-time coaches active head coaches. • Ruoff was one of five student- list. Only three active coaches have athletes named a men’s basketball won more games. • Was predicted ninth in the BIG ESPN the Magazine basketball EAST preseason poll and finished first team Academic All-American seventh. The Mountaineers by the College Sports Information have finished higher than their Directors of America. preseason prediction in each of the last seven seasons.

14 Da’Sean Butler Second Team All-BIG EAST BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (six times) Devin NABC and USBWA all-district teams Devin Ebanks Ebanks BIG EAST All-Rookie Team BIG EAST All-Tournament Team At the 2009 WVU men’s basketball postseason BIG EAST Rookie of the Week (four times) banquet, freshman forward Devin Ebanks received the Most Improved Player Alex Ruoff award, as voted on by his teammates. ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA first team Academic All-American BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year Mountaineer fans may be wondering how BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award a freshman could be named most improved BIG EAST honorable mention all-conference player when he’s only been in Morgantown for WVU game and career 3-point record one season. Well, if you look at the numbers, it’s BIG EAST Player of the Week (Dec. 29, 2008) not hard to figure out why he received the nod BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (twice) from his peers.

Bob Huggins Starting 34 of 35 games in his first year, Ebanks State coach of the year by the West Virginia averaged 5.8 points in his first six games, and Sportswriters’ Association had two games where he didn’t score a point in (second year in a row) his first 10 games as a Mountaineer. In the final 639 career wins, ranking 25th in NCAA history 16 games of the season, mostly against BIG EAST competition, the Long Island City, N.Y., native recorded 14 games in figures, averaging 13 points with five double-doubles in that span. Ebanks also registered his best games with 20 points against Pitt and followed that performance alex ruoff with a career-high 22 points against Syracuse in BIG EAST tournament games. Also in the BIG EAST tournament, he had a career-high 18 rebounds in the opening game against Notre Dame.

Ebanks was named to the BIG EAST all-rookie team at the end of the regular season, becoming WVU’s fourth men’s basketball player to be named to the team. For his performances in the BIG EAST tournament, where he averaged nearly 19 points and more than eight rebounds, he was named to the BIG EAST all- tournament team.

For the season, Ebanks averaged 10.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He grabbed 273 total rebounds and was just six rebounds shy of the WVU freshman rebounding record, set by Warren Baker in 1974.

Heading into his sophomore season, watch for Ebanks to improve in each game of the season, and he possibly be voted most improved player again by his teammates at next year’s banquet.

15 takisha granberry

woMEN’S Basketball 18-15 • Advanced to second round of the • Takisha Granberry and Liz Repella • Repella and Granberry became the postseason WNIT, marking the fifth were all-BIG EAST second team second set of teammates in school time in the last six years that WVU selections. history to each score 500 points in has advanced to postseason play the same season. • Granberry set a new single season • Won at No. 5 and national runner- school record with 94 3-pointers. • Repella became just the fourth up Louisville, marking the highest player in school history to score ranked road victory in school • Repella was named an ESPN The 500 points and grab 250 rebounds history Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All- in the same season. District II first team member. • Sarah Miles was named the BIG EAST’s Most Improved Player.

16 Liz Repella 2009 All-BIG EAST Second Team 2009 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic Liz All-District Two-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll Repella Sarah Miles 2009 BIG EAST Most Improved Player Need a timely basket or a much- BIG EAST Player of the Week - Feb. 9, 2009 needed ? Liz Repella’s your player. Need her to show her peers Takisha Granberry how it’s also done off the court and 2009 BIG EAST Second Team in the classroom? Repella has a grasp on that too.

A native of Steubenville, Ohio, Repella owns a 3.95 GPA in exercise physiology and her athletic prowess is equally as impressive. Last season, the 5-11 guard scored a team-best 543 points, a 16.5 points per game average, and grabbed a squad-high 268 rebounds. She became just the fourth Mountaineer in school history to tally 500 points and 250 rebounds in the same season.

An all-BIG EAST Second Team performer last year on the court, it’s not surprising that Repella was an ESPN The Magaizine/ CoSIDA Academic All-District II First Team honoree.

After all, Repella is WVU’s student-athlete sarah miles poster child.

17 cross country team at ncaa championships

Cross Country

• Team finished a program-best fourth • Asselin finished first at 2008 BIG place at NCAA Championships. EAST Cross Country Championship, first in school history. • Juniors Marie-Louise Asselin and Keri Bland earned All-America • Team placed second at BIG EAST honors after finishing 17th and 14th Championship- Asselin, Bland and at the NCAA National Cross Country Clara Grandt were All-BIG EAST. Championship, respectively.

• NCAA Mid-Atlantic Team Champions

• Six runners named to the NCAA all-Mid-Atlantic Region team – the most in school history clara grandt

• Coach Sean Cleary was named NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.

18 Keri

Marie-Louise Asselin All-American Bland BIG EAST champion – first individual conference champion in WVU history You can call Keri Bland a triple threat First Team All-BIG EAST as the returning cross country and NCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Region Team indoor and outdoor track and field BIG EAST Cross Country Athlete of the Week student-athlete already has earned 2009 Red Brown Cup Award Winner All-America honors in all three sports. USTFCCCA All-Academic Team The two-time All-America cross country Keri Bland runner has been a three-time selection to All-American the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Team and Top WVU finisher (fourth overall) at NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional meet the all-BIG EAST team. She helped guide NCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Region Team WVU to a fourth-place finish at the 2008 Fourth at the BIG EAST Championship NCAA Championships – the program’s First Team All-BIG EAST Team best-ever finish, and two NCAA Regional USTFCCCA All-Academic Team first-place finishes.

Kaylyn Christopher Bringing her speed to the track, Bland NCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Region Team was named the 2009 BIG EAST Indoor USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Track and Field Championship’s Most Outstanding Track Performer. She won the Clara Grandt 1,000-meter title and the ECAC 1,500-meter NCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Region Team title in 2008. She is also a vital part of the Third at BIG EAST Championship relay and distance medley relay teams. First Team All-BIG EAST Team 2008 Team USA Cross Country Member First-place at the North America, A USTFCCCA Academic All-Star, Athletic Central America and Caribbean Director’s Academic Honor Roll and a BIG Athletic Association (NACAC) Cross EAST Academic All-Star, the mathematics Country Championships for Team USA major is the epitome of what a student-athlete should be. Ahna Lewis NCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Region Team USTFCCCA All-Academic Team

19 Quinton Andrews First Team All-BIG EAST (rivals.com) Second Team All-BIG EAST (Phil Steele’s)

mortty Ivy Scooter Berry Second Team All-BIG EAST (coaches) Jeff Casteel BIG EAST Defensive Coordinator of the Year (rivals.com) Mike Dent Second Team All-BIG EAST (coaches) Second Team All-BIG EAST (Phil Steele’s) Noel Devine Second Team All-BIG EAST (coaches) Second Team All-BIG EAST (Phil Steele’s) Second Team All-BIG EAST (rivals.com) Jake Figner Third Team All-BIG EAST (Phil Steele’s) Tito Gonzales Team Captain AFCA Good Works Team NFF Hampshire Honor Society Louis D. Meisel Award from WVU Alumni Association Adam Hughes NFF Hampshire Honor Society Greg Isdaner First Team All-BIG EAST (Phil Steele’s) Football All-BIG EAST (ESPN.com) 9-4 Second Team All-BIG EAST (rivals.com) • Final national ranking of No. 23 – its • Sixth best four-year record in fourth straight Top 25 finish 42-9 (2005-08) Dorrell Jalloh NFF Hampshire Honor Society • 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl • Ninth best five-year record in Champions college football 50-13 (2004-08) Mortty Ivy Team Captain • 10 all-BIG EAST players and eight • 10th-best record in college football First Team All-BIG EAST (coaches) All-America honors in the last six years (2003-08) First Team All-BIG EAST (Phil Steele’s) • Since 2002, West Virginia is just • Since 2002, WVU has won a First Team All-BIG EAST (rivals.com) one of 11 teams in the nation to win league-high 79 percent of its BIG ECAC All-Star eight or more games each year. EAST games. Josh Jenkins • Currently one of three teams in • Since 2002, WVU owns a All-BIG EAST Freshman (rivals.com) the nation to be riding at least a league-best 38-10 record in the four-game bowl winning streak BIG EAST, 10 wins more than the Ellis Lankster second-place team. Second Team All-BIG EAST (coaches) • Currently one of 15 teams in the country that has made seven • Won four of the last six BIG EAST Second Team All-BIG EAST (Phil Steele’s) straight bowl appearances championships Second Team All-BIG EAST (rivals.com)

• Since 2002, has had 17 • Nationally ranked in the Top 25 for Pat Liebig All-Americans named to 44 72 weeks since 2002 NFF Hampshire Honor Society different All-America teams • Since 2005, WVU ranks in the Pat McAfee • Best four-year mark in school Top 10 in national television Team Captain history 42-9 (2005-08) appearances. Ray Guy Award Finalist • Eighth best three-year record in Lou Groza Award Semifinalist college football 31-8 (2006-08) State Farm All-Star Challenge Top Kicker Award CBSSports.com All-American (first) Walter Camp Football Foundation All-American (second) 20 Associated Press All-American (third) Phil Steele’s Football Magazine All-American (third) First Team All-BIG EAST kicker (Phil Steele’s) ECAC All-Star (punter) Reed All-BIG EAST kicker (ESPN.com) Second-Team All-BIG EAST Punter (Phil Steele’s) Second Team All-BIG EAST Punter (coaches) Williams Second Team All-BIG EAST Kicker (coaches) Second Team All-BIG EAST Kicker (rivals.com) One thing West Virginia football has always been Second Team All-BIG EAST Punter (rivals.com) known for is its hard-hitting, blue-collar, bust you in Julian Miller the mouth style of defense. All-BIG EAST Freshman (rivals.com) Redshirt senior middle linebacker Reed Williams, a Robert Sands Moorefield, W.Va., native, exemplifies all of those characteristics to go along with all of the other All-BIG EAST Freshman (rivals.com) intangibles, on and off field, that make him the poster boy Jock Sanders to represent the defense and the WVU football program. Second Team All-BIG EAST (coaches) In the classroom, Williams is a model student, earning Second Team All-BIG EAST (Phil Steele’s) ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first-team Second Team All-BIG EAST (rivals.com) honors in 2007 and already earned his degree in finance. He is currently working on a second degree in marketing Doug Slavonic and has a 3.87 GPA. He is a dean’s list student, member ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American (second) of the athletic director’s academic honor roll, belongs NFF Hampshire Honor Society to several honor societies and is a member of the junior board of directors for Huntington Bank. Ryan Stanchek Team Captain In the community, Williams has taken part in many service projects. Walter Camp Football Foundation All-American (second) He has spent time with the Boys and Girls Clubs. He has participated Phil Steele’s Football Magazine All-American (fourth) in reading days, visited children in the hospitals, worked with Special ECAC All-Star Olympics and been the keynote speaker at banquets. First Team All-BIG EAST (coaches) First Team All-BIG EAST (Phil Steele’s) Being a leader on a football team sometimes requires a person to make tough decisions. Last year was no different as Williams was All-BIG EAST (ESPN.com) confronted with the toughest decision he has ever faced. First Team All-BIG EAST (rivals.com) ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Williams earned a starting role in the WVU defense as a sophomore and NFF Hampshire Honor Society became one of the defensive playmakers. Then the next season, he led the team in tackles (107), assisted tackles (59) and forced fumbles (3). Tyler Urban All-BIG EAST Freshman (rivals.com) His season culminated with nine tackles, including seven solo stops, two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble against Oklahoma in the 2008 Pat White Fiesta Bowl, earning him defensive most valuable player honors. Team Captain Finished Seventh in the Balloting However, Williams was playing with two bad shoulders and had to have Set NCAA record for career quarterback rushing yards (4,480) them surgically repaired during the offseason. The surgery went well, but the recovery took longer than anticipated. He was very limited during Set NCAA record for first starting quarterback to win four bowl games preseason camp, and it carried over into the season. First Player in BIG EAST history to pass 10,000 yards in total offense Knowing that the team needed him, Williams hurried the recovery process Set BIG EAST record for most touchdowns responsible for (103) and was in the lineup for game three. West Virginia Amateur Athlete of the Year selected by the WV Chapter of NFF He played in the Colorado and Marshall games before realizing his shoulders Meineke Car Care Bowl Leadership Award needed more time to heal and to get stronger before being able to take the Meineke Car Care Bowl (MVP) field again so he decided to redshirt. Senior Bowl MVP The decision that he made was a tough one as he didn’t want to give the Amateur Athlete of the Year (West Virginia) appearance that he was a quitter because he had some pain in the shoulders. Amateur Athlete of the Year (Alabama) He also didn’t want to let his teammates down because he couldn’t be in there Playboy All-American to lead them on the field. Finalist for Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Senior Award ECAC All-Star In the long run, the decision was for the best, as Williams was able to First Team All-BIG EAST (coaches) his teammates from the sidelines, while taking the time to let his shoulders heal properly and build up his strength. First Team All-BIG EAST (Phil Steele’s) All-BIG EAST (ESPN.com) He now is preparing for his final season, is healthy and ready to lead the defense First Team All-BIG EAST (rivals.com) from the middle once again. 21 amy bieski

Gymnastics 15-8/10-2

• Finished second at the 2009 East • Coach Linda Burdette became the Jason Butts Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) first WVU coach to earn 600 wins Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year Championship, 0.2 points behind with a Mountaineer team, as she winner NC State (195.70-195.50). passed the plateau with victories Amy Bieski over George Washington and First Team All-EAGL Vault • Four gymnasts earned six first-place Rutgers on Jan. 31. After 35 years First Team All-EAGL Floor awards, matching a program-best with the Mountaineers, Burdette’s First Team All-EAGL All-Around mark first achieved in 1998. With record stands at 612-244-4, and she Second Team All-EAGL Uneven Bars those awards, WVU has now had owns a .714 winning percentage. EAGL Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 27) a league champion in 12 of the 14 EAGL Specialist of the Week (Jan. 20) years of the EAGL existence. • Nine Mountaineers earned 17 EAGL All-Academic All-EAGL honors, a mark • Senior Mehgan Morris became unmatched in WVU history. Heather Izer only the second Mountaineer to Eleven earned first team awards, 2008 NACGC/W Scholastic All-America earn three conference titles at one a program-best mark previously EAGL All-Academic championship, as the Belle, W.Va., achieved by the 1998 squad. Morris native finished first on the bars (9.85), and sophomore Amy Bieski each the floor (9.85) and the all-around earned three first team honors and (39.30). Umme Salim was the first one second team honor. Mountaineer to win three events, as she did so at the 1998 championship. • Morris was named the 2009 EAGL Outstanding Senior Gymnast. She • Morris became the first is the sixth Mountaineer to earn the Mountaineer national-qualifier conference honor. since All-American Janáe Cox (2007), as she finished fifth overall • 14 Mountaineers were named to (39.125) at the 2009 Southeast the 2009 EAGL All-Academic Team. Regional and advanced to the National Championship in Lincoln, Neb. Morris finished 18th in her qualifying round with 39.05 points and concluded her career with 1,623.975 points (12 on the WVU Career Points List). coach linda burdette 22 Naja Johnson First Team All-EAGL Uneven Bars Second Team All-EAGL Floor Exercise Shelly EAGL All-Academic Stephanie Keaton 2008 NACGC/W Scholastic All-America Purkat EAGL All-Academic Shelly Purkat sure knows how to make a Emily Kerwin challenge look easy. Second Team All-EAGL Vault Iron Mountaineer Forced to make up ground on North Carolina Tina Maloney at the March 21 East Atlantic Gymnastics First Place, vault, EAGL Championship League (EAGL) Championship, the junior Second Team All-EAGL Vault EAGL All-Academic gymnast stared down the balance beam with fierce determination, focused on pushing her Faye Meaden Mountaineer squad towards the top of the EAGL All-Academic leaderboard. Mehgan Morris 2009 NCAA National Championship qualifier The beam never stood a chance. Fifth Place, all-around, 2009 NCAA Southeast Regional Purkat’s routine mirrored perfection, and the First Place, all-around, EAGL Championship Edina, Minn., native not only earned a much First Place, bars, EAGL Championship First Place, floor, EAGL Championship needed 9.875 score for her team, but she also 2009 EAGL Outstanding Senior Gymnast finished first overall, with her season-high point First Team All-EAGL Uneven Bars total securing her first EAGL title. First Team All-EAGL Floor Exercise First Team All-EAGL All-Around Though WVU fell just 0.2 points short of repeating Second Team All-EAGL Balance Beam as EAGL champions, the individual win was an Four-time 2009 EAGL Gymnast of the Week inevitable conclusion for Purkat. A balance Shelly Purkat beam and floor specialist, she is known not only for her First Place, beam, EAGL Championship poise, but also the control, stability and enthusiasm she 2008 NACGC/W Scholastic All-America brings to every performance. Having competed in all but Second Team All-EAGL Balance Beam one meet during her three-year career, Purkat finished EAGL All-Academic fifth on the team this past season with 211.775 points. Nicole Roach Additionally, she nabbed her first career all-EAGL second First Team All-EAGL Uneven Bars team balance beam honor and concluded the year ranked EAGL All-Academic 19th on the beam in the Southeast region. Jenn Sharon EAGL All-Academic Besides being a force on the floor, Purkat has her way in the classroom as well. The human nutrition and foods major is a Kiersten Spoerke 2008 NACGC/W Scholastic All-America three-time EAGL all-Academic Team honoree, an NACGC/W First Team All-EAGL Balance Beam Scholastic All-American and an Athletic Director’s Academic First Team All-EAGL Floor Exercise Honor Roll member. EAGL All-Academic Chelsi Tabor Purkat is prepared to step-up to the senior leadership position First Place, vault, EAGL Championship in 2010 and lead the Mountaineers to their seventh EAGL title. First Team All-EAGL Vault EAGL All-Academic No doubt Purkat will conquer that challenge with the same ease she has shown for the last three seasons. It is inevitable. Erica Watson EAGL All-Academic Iron Mountaineer Ashley Wilson EAGL All-Academic Jessica Young EAGL All-Academic 23 Coach Jon Hammond CRCA Coach of the Year Brandi Eskew NRA First Team Smallbore All-America GARC All-Conference Smallbore Second Team GARC All-Conference Combined Score Second Team 2008-09 Preseason All-GARC Watch List l to r: brandi eskew, Michael Kulbacki andy lamson, NRA Second Team Air Rifle All-America kyle smith, GARC All-Conference Air Rifle Second Team tommy santelli GARC All-Conference Combined Score Honorable Mention Andy Lamson NRA First Team Air Rifle All-America NRA Second Team Smallbore All-America GARC All-Conference Combined Score First Team GARC All-Conference Air Rifle Second Team GARC All-Conference Smallbore Second Team GARC Scholar-Athlete ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-American Rifle ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA First Team All-District 11-1 • Rallied from sixth-place day-one • Just three years into his coaching finish and won NCAA-best 14th career, Jon Hammond has already championship with final score of comprised an impressive 35-8 4,643. Also secured air rifle title with record and boasts a .814 winning score of 2,353. The championship is percentage. Not only did Hammond the team’s first since 1998. pave the path back to the NCAA title, but he also earned his second • Finished the season ranked No. 1 straight CRCA Coach of the Year overall in the Collegiate Rifle honor. Additionally, Hammond Coaches Association (CRCA) Poll. competed for Great Britain at the WVU was previously ranked No. 1 2008 Olympics. on the Feb. 9 midseason poll, the squad’s first No. 1 ranking in more • The Mountaineers shot a nation- than a decade. WVU was ranked in best and school-record 4677 team Justin Pentz the top three all season. score in their victory over NC State NRA Second Team Smallbore All-America (4493) at the WVU Rifle Range on NRA Second Team Air Rifle All-America • Seven Mountaineers earned Jan. 18. GARC All-Conference Smallbore Honorable Mention National Rifle Association (NRA) GARC All-Conference Combined Score All-America honors, the most Honorable Mention honorees since the 1996 squad. coach jon hammond Tommy Santelli • Fnished second at the Great NRA Second Team Smallbore All-America American Rifle Conference (GARC) NRA Second Team Air Rifle All-America Championship with an aggregate GARC All-Conference Smallbore Second Team score of 4,645 GARC All-Conference Combined Score Second Team GARC All-Conference Air Rifle Honorable Mention • Redshirt-junior Bryant Wallizer 2008-09 Preseason All-GARC Watch List finished second nationally in the air rifle with a championship score Kyle Smith of 691, only sixth-tenths of a point NRA First Team Smallbore All-America short of first place. GARC All-Conference Smallbore First Team GARC Scholar-Athlete • Sophomore Tommy Santelli earned Iron Mountaineer the top aggregate score at the GARC Championship, shooting 591 Bryant Wallizer air rifle and 578 smallbore for a NRA First Team Air Rifle All-America combined score of 1169. GARC All-Conference Air Rifle First Team GARC All-Conference Combined Score Honorable Mention 2008-09 Preseason All-GARC Watch List 24 2009 USA Shooting Air Rifle National Champion Rowing

• Held its first-ever home event this • Juniors Kimberly Benda, Brett Kimberly Benda season on the Monongahela River, Krumholz and Kathryn Walsh and Collegiate Rowing Coaches Assocation where the Varsity 4+ took first sophomore Rachel Viglianco were National Scholar-Athlete (7:06.31) ahead of Dayton (7:07.91), named National Scholar-Athletes Team Captain George Mason (7:12.33) and by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association for the 2008-09 Duquesne (7:19.25) Brett Krumholz academic year. Qualifications for Collegiate Rowing Coaches Assocation • Had two boats finish in the grand this award include a minimum 3.5 National Scholar-Athlete finals at the Knecht Cup: Varsity 4+ cumulative GPA, while also racing finished in fourth (9:02.1), while the in 75% of the team’s top boat during Novice 4+ Team ‘A’ finished third the spring racing season. It was Rachel Viglianco (9:30.7) the second year in a row Benda Collegiate Rowing Coaches Assocation earned the award and the first for National Scholar-Athlete • Team finished eighth at the BIG the others. EAST Championships Kathryn Walsh Collegiate Rowing Coaches Assocation • The Varsity 4+ ended the fall National Scholar-Athlete season with a fourth-place showing in the grand finals at the Head of the Occoquan in Fairfax Station, Va.

25 zach johnson

MEN’S

5-9-5 Soccer • Finished the 2008 campaign with • For the third-straight year under a 5-9-5 overall mark, 3-4-4 in the LeBlanc, the Mountaineers BIG EAST, and qualified for the knocked off Connecticut, ranked league tournament for the fifth- No. 4 at the time, 1-0. The game straight year was nationally televised on the Fox Soccer Channel in Storrs, Conn. • Coach Marlon LeBlanc’s 2008 recruiting class was named the • Freshman Alex Silva, who scored 26th-best nationally, according to the game-winning goal against CollegeSoccerNews. It was the Connecticut, was named the BIG second time LeBlanc’s class has EAST Offensive Player of the Week been nationally recognized. on Oct. 6 and then earned a spot on the Soccer America Team of the • Zach Johnson was named the BIG Week. Silva is only the fifth player EAST Goalkeeper of the Year and in program history to be named to earned a spot on the all-BIG EAST the publication’s team of the week. first team. • WVU defeated its second Top 25 • Gift Maworere, who started opponent, taking down No. 22 Ohio the season as a midfielder and State at home, 1-0. converted to defense, earned all-BIG EAST honorable mention accolades • A program-record 10,957 fans for the second-straight year. packed the stands of Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, including six • Jason Bristol garnered NSCAA/ matches where at least 1,000 fans adidas Scholar all-East Region flooded the gates. The total home honorable mention status. attendance ranked 19th-best in the nation, while the average • Won its first NSCAA Team home attendance was 26th-best Academic Award in program nationally. history, earning a 3.24 team grade point average, surpassing the required minimum 3.0 team GPA

alex silva 26 Gift

Zach Johnson BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Maworere All-BIG EAST First Team BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/29/08) Gift Maworere has an immense passion for soccer. His love for the sport was deep enough Gift Maworere that he left his birthplace in Bulawayo, All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention Zimbabwe, for Alexandria, Va., where BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/22/08) he attended and played four years of soccer at Episcopal High. Jason Bristol adidas/NSCAA Scholar All-East At the conclusion of high school, Region Honorable Mention Maworere found a new home – BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll West Virginia University. Donald La Guerre BIG EAST Institutional Male-Scholar “It’s challenging because you Athlete don’t have parents around, but I’m kind of used to it by now,” the Alex Silva BIG EAST Academic All-Star said. Soccer America Team of the Week “I came over and I’ve been here for a BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week while. It wasn’t as hard coming here from Alexandria, Va., as it was leaving Zimbabwe. Ryan Gillespie It was just another challenge for me.” BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/15/08) Challenging or not, Maworere immediately found his niche. As a true freshman in 2006, he started all 20 matches he played in, tallied a goal and helped lead the Mountaineers to the championship game of the league tournament and a second-round appearance inthe NCAA Tournament.

While there was little question as to whether he would excel on the field with his talent, he knows it would have been tough had he not been as welcomed as he was throughout the community.

With the astounding amount of support, Maworere continued to improve. In 2007, he again started all contests he played in (21) and earned his first major honor as he was named all-BIG EAST honorable mention. His leadership and exceptionally tough play helped WVU reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history.

As he looks toward his senior season, Maworere reflects on the friendships and relationships he has made during his time in Morgantown. However, the 2008 all-BIG EAST honorable mention recipient knows his time away from home would not have been the same without one thing – not soccer – but the caring teammates and supporters who have become his new family.

27 Nikki Izzo-Brown Twelve 10-win seasons in the program’s 13 year history blake miller Notched 175th win at WVU on Oct. 19 in 2-1 comeback victory against Villanova

Greer Barnes 2009 WPS Draft Pick 2008 Soccer America Second Team MVP 2008 Soccer Buzz Second Team All-American 2008 NSCAA Third Team All-American 2008 TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Season Second Team 2008 NSCAA First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region 2008 Soccer Buzz First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region 2008 First Team All-BIG EAST 2008 First Tennessee Lady Vols Classic All-Tournament Team 2008 First Tennessee Lady Vols Classic Defensive MVP 2008 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Watch List

Carolyn Blank 2008 TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Season First Team 2008 NSCAA Second Team All-American woMEN’S 2008 Soccer Buzz Second Team All-American 2008 NSCAA First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region 2008 Soccer Buzz First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region 2008 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year Soccer 2008 First Team All-BIG EAST 14-3-6 2008 BIG EAST Championship • Final ranking of 14th in NSCAA/ All-Tournament Team adidas poll; ranked every week 2008 Notre Dame Inn at St. Mary’s Classic throughout the season All-Tournament Team Team MVP • Tied school record for fewest losses in a season (14-3-6) Kerri Butler 2008 Soccer Buzz Second Team • Advanced to its ninth consecutive All-Mid-Atlantic Region NCAA tournament, an active streak good for ninth best in the country Amanda Cicchini • Defense tied school record for • NSCAA Team 2008 NSCAA Third Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region shutouts with 13 Academic Award (3.0 GPA or higher) for 2008 Soccer Buzz Third Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region • Finished with an unbeaten record at a seventh-straight year home (9-0-2) 2008 First Team All-BIG EAST • Two Mountaineers earned 2008 First Tennessee Lady Vols Classic • Carolyn Blank became the school’s All-America honors. All-Tournament Team second BIG EAST Midfielder of the 2008 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Watch List Year, joining current assistant coach • Six Mountaineers earned Lisa Stoia, who won the award in all-region honors. Lisa DuCote 2002 and 2003. 2008 NSCAA Scholar All-East Region • Six Mountaineers earned Honorable Mention • West Virginia repeated as All-BIG EAST honors and BIG EAST American Division two were named to the Champions - the program’s BIG EAST Championship fourth regular-season title all-tournament team. greer barnes 28 Deana Everrett 2008 TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Season Third Team Carolyn 2008 Soccer Buzz Second Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region 2008 Second Team All-BIG EAST Blank 2008 First Tennessee Lady Vols Classic All-Tournament Team 2008 First Tennessee Lady Vols Classic Overall Midfielder Carolyn Blank has racked up a lot of Most Valuable Player accomplishments in her West Virginia University 2008 NSCAA Scholar All-East Region Second Team soccer career: second team All-American, first 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic team all-region, BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year, All-District Second Team team captain, BIG EAST division and tournament Team Most Offensive Player champions, and much more. Kelsey Fowler The lengthy list of accomplishments, however, 2008 NSCAA Scholar All-East Region Honorable Mention will only get longer as she prepares for her senior season this fall. Erica Henderson 2008 Soccer Buzz Freshman All-Mid-Atlantic Region A Soccer Buzz Top 50 recruit out of Toms River 2008 BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament Team High (Toms River, N.J.), Blank made an immediate Team Most Improved Player impact with the Mountaineers starting every match at outside back. As a sophomore, she excelled in the Blake Miller transition from defender to defensive midfield, where 2008 Soccer Buzz Fourth Team Freshman she was named a second team all-region performer. All-American Blank led WVU to its first BIG EAST tournament title in 2008 Soccer Buzz Freshman All-Mid-Atlantic Region 2008 Honorable Mention All-BIG EAST 2007 while being named the Championship’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Megan Mischler 2008 Third Team All-BIG EAST Last season was Blank’s best yet, as she became the 2008 First Tennessee Lady Vols Classic school’s second BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year, joining All-Tournament Team current assistant coach Lisa Stoia, who won the award 2008 First Tennessee Lady Vols Classic in 2002 and 2003. An aggressive and tenacious defender, Offensive MVP Blank earned second team All-America honors from two 2008 Notre Dame Inn at St. Mary’s Classic All-Tournament Team major outlets on her way to winning a second straight Team MVP award. Robin Rushton 2008 National Strength and Conditioning Association Perhaps most impressive is the leadership the education (NSCA) All-American major provides to her teammates. Despite a talented eight- 2008 NSCAA Scholar All-East Region member senior class in 2008, it was Blank who earned Honorable Mention team captain stripes. She led the Mountaineers to a ninth 2008 ESPN The Magazine /CoSIDAcademic All-District Second Team consecutive NCAA tournament berth, the country’s ninth Team Most Defensive Player longest active streak.

Her value also was recognized on a national level with her invite last summer to attend the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team training camp in Carson, Calif. Blank was one of 26 players invited to participate in World Cup preparations at The Home Depot Center, an official U.S. Olympic training site.

As the 2009 season approaches, look for the Mountaineers to ride the efforts and leadership of their senior All-American in their quest for a national championship. And that is one achievement Blank would enjoy adding to her stellar WVU career.

29 lindsey largo

Swimming men 4-10/women 4-11 • Four NCAA qualifiers • Six individual BIG EAST & Diving Champions at the 2009 BIG EAST Championships Kayla Andrews NCAA qualifier (100 fly, 100 free) • A total of 16 school records broken BIG EAST champion (100 free) throughout the season Morgan Callaway • One BIG EAST Championships michael walker record broken 2009 BIG EAST Championships Most Outstanding Female Swimmer • One Honorable Mention All- BIG EAST champion (500 free, 200 free and 200 back) American NCAA qualifier (500 free, 200 free, 200 back) Women’s team captain • Fourth-place finish for the men and fifth place for the women at the Lindsey Largo 2009 BIG EAST Championships NCAA qualifier (1,650 free) BIG EAST champion (1,650 free) • One Mountaineer named 2009 BIG EAST Championships Most Outstanding Swimmer Pablo Marmolejo Two-time men’s team captain • Women’s GPA averaged out to 3.3. School record holder in 200 fly and 800 free relay

Michael Walker Honorable Mention All-America (400 IM) NCAA qualifier (200 IM, 400 IM, 200 breast) BIG EAST champion (400 IM)

30 morgan callaway Women’s 9-17 Tennis

• Earned fifth-straight trip to the BIG EAST tournament

• Three players posted 20-win seasons - Olga Elkin (24), Monique Burton (24) and Stephanie LaFortune (23) kathryn • One player earned a 30-win haught season: Veronica Cardenas (30).

• Monique Burton and Stephanie LaFortune finished the season with a 16-7 record in doubles play, as they won eight out of their last nine matches.

Kathryn Haught Martha Thorn Award

Veronica Cardenas veronica Coaches’ Award cardenas Outstanding Player

Stephanie LaFortune WVU #1 Player Award stephanie Most Improved lafortue Jane Little Award

Catie Wickline Most Improved

Monique Burton Jane Little Award

31 Alex Acker chelsea carrier Outdoor NCAA Regional qualifier pole vault) Marie-Louise Asselin NCAA Indoor qualifier with Distance Medley Relay team (finished 10th) NCAA Outdoor regional champion (5,000 meters) NCAA Outdoor qualifier (5,000 meters, 10,000 meters) ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District Red Brown Cup Winner Sarah-Anne Brault Outdoor NCAA Regional qualifier in 5,000 meters Keri Bland BIG EAST Indoor champion in mile (set school and BIG EAST Championship meet record) Most Outstanding Track Performer at BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championship ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-District Fred Schaus Captains Award Chelsea Carrier NCAA Indoor Qualifier (pentathlon and 60-meter hurdles); was 15th in pentathlon ECAC and BIG EAST Outdoor Champion (100-meter hurdle titles) Track & NCAA Outdoor Qualifier (100-meter hurdles) Kaylyn Christopher NCAA Indoor Qualifier with Distance Medley Indoor Relay team (finished 10th)

• April Rotilio set a new school Clara Grandt NCAA All-America 10,000 meters (outdoor) record in the 400-meter event with Field Set a school record in the 5,000-meter event with a time of 54.64 at the Alex Wilson OUTdoor a time of 16:21.60 at the BIG EAST Indoor Invitational. Track and Field Championships • Marie-Louise Asselin was named Set a school record in the 10,000-meter event at the • Keri Bland set a school and BIG the recipient of the 2009 Red Stanford Outdoor Track and Field Championship EAST Championship meet record Brown Cup. on March 28 with a time of 33:16.96. and a new school record in the 5,000-meter champion at the BIG EAST Outdoor mile event when she took the • Keri Bland was named the Track and Field Championship (16:07.55) title with a time of 4:34.78. Bland recipient of the 2009 Fred NCAA Outdoor Qualifier (5,000 and 10,000 meters) was named the meet’s Most Schaus Captains Award. United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Outstanding Track Performer, Association Mid-Atlantic Athlete of the Year voted on by all 16 women’s head • Clara Grandt won Karly Hamric coaches. 5,000-meter NCAA qualifier with Distance Medley Relay team BIG EAST (finished 10th)f 11:14.46. • Alison Spiker was selected as the Championship NCAA Outdoor Regional Qualifier (1,500 meters) 2008-09 BIG EAST Institutional title while Chelsea Female Scholar-Athlete recipient. Carrier won the Ahna Lewis 100-meter hurdle NCAA Outdoor Regional Qualifier (1,500 meters) • The Mountaineers qualified title at the 2009 Jessica O’Connell a program-best six athletes BIG EAST Outdoor NCAA Outdoor Regional qualifier (1,500 meters) to compete at the 2009 NCAA Championships. Indoor Track and Field National April Rotilio Championships - April Rotilio, • Finished third at the ECAC NCAA Indoor Qualifier with Distance Medley Relay Kaylyn Christopher, Karly Hamric, Championship, tying the 2005 team (finished 10th) Marie-Louise Asselin, Chelsea squad for program-best Set a school record in the 400 meters Carrier, and Keri Bland. The NCAA Outdoor Regional Qualifier (400 meters) distance medley relay (DMR) • Chelsea Carrier won the Natasha Redman team competed at the NCAA 100-meter hurdle ECAC NCAA Outdoor Regional Qualifier (high jump) Championship for the ninth time Championship title for the in 11 years. second consecutive year. Alison Spiker 2008-09 BIG EAST Institutional Female Scholar-Athlete recipient NCAA Outdoor Regional Qualifier karly hamric 32 (3,000-meter steeplechase) Tammy Wolf

Volleyball7-21

• Finished the season ranked fifth as a team in the conference in with 1471 total digs and ninth with 127 service aces

• Sophomore libero Bonnie West led the team with 424 total digs, placing her ninth on the list for most digs in a single season at WVU.

• West also finished fifth in the conference for most digs in 2008 averaging 3.96 per game.

• Freshman Kylie Armbruster led the team in kills this season with 229, while finishing second in digs with 239.

Kylie Armbruster BIG EAST Freshman of the Week WVU Rookie of the Year

Tammy Wolf Team’s Outstanding Player

Abby Monson Team’s Most Improved Player

Tamara De Angelis kylie armbruster Coaches Award

33 donnie jones

Wrestling 8-4-2 • Qualified five wrestlers for the 2009 • Heavyweight Dustin Rogers NCAA Wrestling Championships defeated six Top 25 opponents in the 2008-09 season. • Took second place at the EWL kurt Championships • WVU shutout two opponents in brenner 2008-09, Duquesne (57-0) and • Coach Craig Turnbull earned his Cleveland State (41-0). It was the 250th career victory when the first time since the 1984 season Mountaineers defeated Clarion, that WVU recorded two shutouts in 22-14, on Jan. 24. a season (60-0 win at home against Kurt Brenner (184 pounds) Ohio; 49-0 win at home against • Kurt Brenner (174) won his third California, Pa.). EWL Champion Eastern Wrestling League title, and NCAA Qualifier his second crown at 174 pounds. dustin Fourth place at Cliff Keen Last Vegas rogers He became only the fifth wrestler Collegiate Invitational in school history to win at least three titles since the Mountaineers Dustin Rogers (285 pounds) joined the EWL in 1978. NCAA Qualifier Seventh place at Cliff Keen Last Vegas • Brenner and David Jauregui (149) Collegiate Invitational qualified for their fourth NCAA National Wrestling Coaches Association Division I Tournament appearances in 2009. All-Academic Team They are only two of 13 grapplers in program history to accomplish Donnie Jones (165 pounds) the feat. EWL Wrestler of the Week • Donnie Jones (165) was named the NCAA Qualifier EWL Wrestler of the Week after back-to-back major decisions over David Jauregui (149 pounds) a pair of EWL opponents. NCAA Qualifier

Ryan Goodman (157 pounds) 34 NCAA Qualifier Development Council

Rick Adams Dean Hartley Buddy Quertinmont Willie Akers Dave Hendrickson Stu Robbins David Alvarez Stan Hostler Bob Robinson Ralph Ballard Bill McCartney Jack Rossi Harry F. Bell Jr. Bill Maloney Craig Saunders Dan Brown Frazier Miller Jim Smith Kristin DiBartolomeo Kerry Nessel Kay Summers Bob Dunlevy Parry Petroplus Phil Weser Samme Gee Rick Pill John Wooten Lee Good Milan Puskar Alan Zuccari

Corporate Sponsors

Anheuser-Busch Kroger State Farm Insurance AT&T Mead Westvaco StubHub Brickstreet Insurance Mountain State Blue subway Chesapeake Energy Cross Blue Shield suddenlink Chrysler-Jeep Mylan Coca-Cola NAPA United Bank Cooper Tires Nike Walker Machinery 84 Lumber Northside Automotive West Virginia Coal Gatorade Papa John’s Pizza Association Idearc Yellow Pages RazeWV.com West Virginia Lottery

35 MAC Report July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009

Mission of the Mountaineer Athletic Club Mountaineer Total Money Raised

Athletic Club $18,914,829.62 $15,501,478 The Mountaineer Athletic Club $13,818,559 $13,851,219 is the fundraising arm of the Department of Intercollegiate $11,604,853.76 Athletics at West Virginia University. The Mission of the $9,688,829.62

Mountaineer Athletic Club is $7,326,454.84 to provide annual scholarship

support to West Virginia $6,193,541.26 University student-athletes and to develop private support for Gift Amount capital projects, endowments and other needs as prioritized by the WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Supported by businesses and Fiscal Year individuals alike, the MAC Denotes pledge payment of WVU’s single-largest gift provides funds for grants-in- aid to more than 500 male and female student-athletes at WVU. Mountaineer Athletic Club Gift Breakdown

9% 18% 3%

Scholarships/ Endowments

Annual Giving/ Ticket Priority Capital Improvements/ Facility Enhancement Gifts Other

70% 36

Sch. Endow - 10%, Annual Giving/Ticket Priority - 60%, Capital Improvements - 24%, Other - 6% Staff

West Virginia University Sports Head Coaches Department of Communications Nikki Izzo-Brown Intercollegiate Athletics Michael Fragale Women’s Soccer Assistant Athletic Director, Communications DR. JAMES P. CLEMENTS Linda Burdette President John Antonik Gymnastics Director, New Media Ed Pastilong Mike Carey Director of Athletics Bryan Messerly Women’s Basketball Mike Parsons Sports Information Director Sean Cleary Deputy Director of Athletics Mike Montoro Cross Country/Track Russ Sharp Director, Football Communications Veronica Senior Associate Director of Athletics/ Joe Swan Finance and Administration Hammersmith Sports Publications Director Volleyball Garrett Ford Phil Caskey Associate Director of Athletics/ Jon Hammond Associate Sports Information Director Student Services Rifle Tim Goodenow Terri Howes Assistant Sports Publications Director Bob Huggins Associate Director of Athletics/ Men’s Basketball Sports Development/ Senior Women’s Administrator Sports Marketing jimmy king and Sales Rowing Mountaineer Brad Howe Marlon LeBlanc Athletic Club Assistant Athletic Director, Men’s Soccer Marketing and Sales Niles Eggleston Vic Riggs Assistant Athletic Director, Development Matt Wells Swimming and Diving Executive Director Sports Marketing Director bill stewart J LOCKLIER nathaniel zinn Senior Director, Development Football Assistant Sports Gary McPherson Marketing Director Craig Turnbull Senior Director, Development Wrestling matt borman Greg Van Zant Director, Major Gifts Baseball

john matsko Marc Walters Director, Development Tennis frank oliverio Assistant Director, Development Jan Runner Development Coordinator casey cunningham Development Associate West Virginia University NON-PROFIT Department of Intercollegiate Athletics ORGANIZATION PO Box 877 | Morgantown, WV 26507-0877 U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #34 MORGANTOWN, WV