Spartan Report
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SPARTAN REPORT News from Aurora University Athletics | June 2016 A championship year in review Spartans shine in athletic conferences WOMEN’S GOLF MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY WOMEN’S INDOOR As the winner of the Northern Athletics Collegiate After winning the Northern Athletics Collegiate TRACK AND FIELD Conference championship last fall, the AU women’s Conference title, the AU men’s cross country team For the fourth consecutive season, the AU women’s golf team finished in 18th place at the 2016 NCAA finished with the highest placing in the NCAA track team won the Northern Athletics Collegiate Championships, three places higher than the team’s Division III Midwest Regional meet in school and Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. finish last season. NACC history. The Spartan men finished 13th out of 38 teams. “‘Take every chance, drop every fear’ — This quote “It’s been a privilege to play golf on a close-knit describes our team very well,” said sophomore team,” said junior Nikki Funk. “The close bond “This team is a band of different characters from all Jackie Schane. “We are hard working and willing between teammates is our competitive advantage, walks of life,” said junior James Baeskens. “But to be challenged. What gets the team going is each motivating each player to work hard and never give when we come together for practice at school or on member believing in herself and each other. We up. The friendships and memories I have made as the course for a cross-country meet, we run as one take chances, run great races and put aside any part of the team are unforgettable.” unified team.” fears we have.” MEN’S LACROSSE SOFTBALL WOMEN’S OUTDOOR The AU men’s lacrosse team finished the 2016 The AU softball team finished the 2016 season TRACK AND FIELD season 17–3, a new single-season record. The team with a 32–14 overall record. The Northern Athletics The AU women’s track team won the Northern also secured its fourth straight Midwest Lacrosse Collegiate Conference champions also made a repeat Athletics Collegiate Conference Outdoor Track and Conference championship and fourth consecutive trip appearance in the NCAA Division III Regional. Field Championships for the fifth consecutive year. to the NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Sweet 16. “The 2016 season was a life lesson and learning “Every year we have faced new challenges,” said “It was an honor to be the captain of a great group season for me,” said sophomore Larkin Langston. senior Talia Sheedlo. “One year we won the of young men for the past two seasons,” said recent “I learned that in life we will be confronted with conference by over 200 points. This year we had to graduate Jon Glende. “Leading the team to our fourth choices and chances to be the best. This year we come back from being behind after the first day. In straight conference championship was monumental fell short of being the NCAA Division III champion, my four years at AU we’ve never lost a conference because we contributed to a growing legacy that is but it showed us what we need to work on to title as a women’s team. I’m very proud to have Aurora men’s lacrosse. As an alumnus, I cannot wait compete further next year.” been a part of that success!” to see what the team accomplishes next! Kalmon Stokes placed third nationally 4x400 relay team that won NACC firsts All-American is and took home All-American honors in 2015 and 2016. Training healthy, high-performing athletes in both the 400-meter dash and never satisfied 400-meter hurdles at this year’s “Kalmon is an exceptional athlete,” said on the track NCAA Division III Track and Field Bradon Sturman, track and field head Championships. But even though coach. “His work ethic is outstanding, his times for both events set AU and as is his ability to push past the point NACC records, he was disappointed. where most people would have quit.” The 6-foot-4-inch Stokes — he was a Winning races and earning All- four-year standout on the AU basketball American distinctions are “great,” said team, too — got his start in hurdles at Stokes, but he doesn’t let it go to his Oswego East High School, where he head. “I’m never satisfied. I always feel quickly absorbed everything his coaches that I can do better.” could teach him about the event. Stokes graduated in May 2016 with a At AU, Stokes wasted no time in bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and establishing himself as a force to be a minor in business. With a year reckoned with, winning first place in of eligibility remaining, Stokes hopes the 400 hurdles in NACC competition to continue his studies in graduate four years running (and claiming All- school — and continue to push for American honors in the event in 2015). perfection on the track. He was also a member of the men’s come first,” he said. “Our primary goal is all the way to the “Sweet 16” in 2005 It takes more than pumping iron to get the most out of a achieving the strength and conditioning team’s main goals: Balancing to get them through with their and 2010 — while compiling a 250–28 strength and conditioning program. improving athletic performance and decreasing injuries. degree in four years. conference record. college life Winning games For one thing, it takes hours of meticulous behind-the-scenes The program’s efforts have paid off, according to Trudo. Not “THEY WORK HARD, MAKE NO isn’t everything.” This year the team planning, which is exactly what Chad Trudo and his staff are only do AU athletes suffer fewer and less serious injuries, the MISTAKE, BUT WE SEE TO IT THAT and winning took top honors in doing this summer — and the same thing they have done school has cut injury-related expenses — on everything from THEY ALSO HAVE TIME FOR THEIR Even so, his teams NACC play with a every summer since 2012 when Trudo became head of the athletic tape and aspirin to surgery — by as much as $335,000 STUDIES, SERVICE WORK AND do win — a lot. 19–3 record. The strength and conditioning program here. in a single year. THEIR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.” Spartans were “EVERYONE’S NEEDS ARE Since coming to eliminated in “We currently work with about 700 student- A LITTLE DIFFERENT, SO What’s more, AU’s strength and conditioning Aurora as head coach of the softball the first round of the NCAA Div. III athletes representing 22 sports,” said Trudo. THERE IS NO COOKIE- program has helped prepare a number of former program in 2004, McKenzie has tournament, for an overall record “Our task is to develop a personalized, CUTTER APPROACH.” interns for positions at schools across the country. accumulated a 442–123–2 record of 32–14. research-based plan for each of them that This year, two of Trudo’s interns, Patrick DeVries and taken home three Northern takes into account their gender as well as the biomechanics of and David Cesario, both seniors, received All-American Illinois-Iowa Conference (NIIC) titles, McKenzie earned a bachelor’s degree their specific sport and position. Each plan focuses on building recognition, an honor also earned by intern Gavin Walker seven Northern Athletics Collegiate in physical education from Marian power, endurance, speed and agility, which all contribute to in 2015. Conference (NACC) championships and College in Indianapolis in 1986. He Head Softball Coach Mike McKenzie four NACC tournament championships. later completed a master’s degree in wants one thing for his players: A great He was named NIIC Coach of the Year kinesiology at Indiana University. four-year experience. And for him that twice and NACC Coach of the Year means success both on the field and six times, including this year. He currently lives in Naperville with in the classroom — but it never his two Labrador retrievers, Bubby and SPARTAN FANS, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS SEND AN EMAIL TO [email protected] WITH YOUR NAME, means compromise. Perhaps most impressive, the Spartans Louie, who keep him busy whenever he JIM HAMAD? PHONE NUMBER AND QUESTION. have made seven trips to the NCAA is not attending a Cubs game. “When I recruit students to come Division III championships during play, I tell them that at AU academics McKenzie’s 13 seasons here — going #WEAREONEAU Spartan Fund supports summer projects The Spartan Fund, which enhances the quality of the student-athlete experience through financial support from alumni and friends, will benefit two major facilities on campus this summer. The weight room will be enhanced through the purchase of new dumbbells and maintenance on existing equipment and treadmills will be performed. Outside on Vago Field, two Raven filming devices from US Sports Video will be installed. The devices are portable, go up to 30 feet and are equipped with HD cameras. auspartans @au_spartans @auspartansports auspartansports @auspartansports SPARTAN REPORT SPARTAN News from Aurora University Athletics Athletics University Aurora from News June 2016 June |.