Wright State Athletics Wright State University Nutter Center 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy. | Dayton, OH 45435 | (937) 775-2771 wsuraiders.com Mission Statement We focus on our student-athletes as People, as Students, and as Athletes. On the Cover: 2015 Horizon League Baseball Champions, and (l-r) Horizon League Players of the Year Tay’ler Mingo, Nick Scott and Eric Lynch. just like student-athlete FAMILY Welcome Back Event the Rowdies Bob Grant’s 50th Birthday 2014-15 HIGHLIGHTS • The baseball team won the Horizon League title and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament where they advanced to the regional finals against Illinois. • The men’s soccer, women’s basketball and softball teams advanced to their respective Horizon League Championship games. • Three Raider student-athletes were named the Horizon League Player of the Year: Eric Lynch (men’s soccer), Tay’ler Mingo (women’s basketball) and Nick Scott (golf). • Women’s basketball won a bid to their first-ever Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). • Baseball player Michael Timm was one of 30 national candidates for the Senior CLASS Award. • Three Wright State men’s soccer players were named to the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region teams as Eric Lynch was chosen to WSU Athletics welcomed nearly 200 the Second Team while Emeka Ononye and Peguy Ngatcha were selected to the Third teams with over 6,800 athletes and Team. • Eddie McClintock, former wrestler and star approximately 17,000 fans, friends and of the Syfy series “Warehouse 13,” served as master of ceremonies for Rise. Shine. The family to the Rinzler Student Sports Campaign for Wright State University gala formally announcing Wright State’s $150 Complex/Alumni Field, Nischwitz million campaign. Stadium and the WSU Softball Field. • The baseball team won the Joe Nuxhall Classic for third time in four years. • Raider Baseball won a record 43 games including wins over #11 Miami (Fla.) and #18 Ole Miss. • Baseball’s Sean Murphy was named to Johnny Bench Award Watch List as a semifinalist. • Cross Country runner Ian Kallay was featured in the NCAA’s Champion Magazine, October issue for his efforts against human trafficking. • Former men’s soccer standout Winston Marshall signed with Del Rey City SC of the United Premier Soccer League. • Cross Country runner Ian Kallay represented Wright State at National NCAA Leadership Seminar. • Women’s soccer player Allie Metzler was named Allie Metzler to the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Team. Ian Kallay 2 For 36 straight terms, Wright State Student-Athletes have posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. • Baseball pitcher Andrew Elliott was named a Second Team Summer Collegiate All- American and named to NCBWA Stopper Watch List. • Men’s soccer posted 12 wins for the most wins since 2001. • Baseball’s Mark Fowler was named a semifinalist for the Gregg Olson Breakout Award. • Men’s basketball player Chrishawn Hopkins advanced to semifinals of Dark Horse Dunker National Contest. • Head Cross Country and Track Coach Fabien Corbillon was selcted to participate in the 2015 USATF/IAAF Academy at the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. • Men’s Basketball player Kendall Griffin nominated for Good Works Team and NABC Honors Court. • Women’s basketball player Abby Jump selected for “So You Want to be a Coach” program. • Mitchell Stover set a new Horizon League and Championship record when he won the 200 individual medley at the conference meet. He was named the League’s Male Freshman of the Year. The Wright State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC’s) It’s On Us video submission was Abby Jump selected as one of six finalists by the National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the NCAA. Chrishawn Hopkins • Six softball players were named NFCA Scholar-Athletes: Jess Gorman, Taylor Knore, Rachael Oakley, Kate Pfeffer, Kristi Boreing, and Kacie Rapshus. • Former men’s soccer player Emeka Ononye signed a contract with the Toronto K-W United FC and following their season was voted the team’s Player of the Year. • Former women’s soccer player Emilie Fillion signed to play for Mitchell Stover MSV Duisburg team in Germany. • Former women’s basketball player Ivory James signed a pro contract in Romania. • Former Major Leaguer Scott Rolen was featured at WSU’s First Pitch Banquet. 3 Twenty-nine student-athletes earned Horizon League All- Conference awards and 84 were named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll. earn the American Volleyball Coaches of America • Women’s basketball player Tay’ler Mingo was a finalist Team Academic Award. for Nancy Lieberman Award that recognizes floor • Former women’s soccer player Ini Umotong leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills. represented Nigeria in the 2015 Women’s World • Softball coach Lynn Curylo picked up career win 100. Cup. • Cross Country runner Ian Kallay and former • Andrew Elliott was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles teammates Dan Shafer and Jason Bruns ran in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft. together in the 2015 Boston Marathon. • At Nationals, the Raider Mascot was National Runner • The women’s swimming & diving team was ranked Up while the Co-Ed Cheer was 17th, Dance Team was 10th in the nation’s Top 25 Most Improved Teams in an 22nd and Hip Hop Dance placed seventh. early-season poll by CollegeSwimming.com. • WSU produced more than 100 video stream events for • The men’s swim team recorded a grade point EPSN3 in 2014-15. average of 3.12 and were among 70 teams honored, • Men’s basketball player Michael Karena played with while the women posted a GPA of 3.17 and were Athletes In Action in his homeland New Zealand. among 130 teams honored by the College Swim • Coaches Association of America. Wright State men’s basketball has led the Horizon League in attendance the past three years. In 2012- • Men’s swimming & diving was ranked #34 in the 13 WSU was 39% higher than the league average, CollegeSwimming.com team rankings in December. 38% higher in 2013-14, and 59% higher in 2014-15. • The volleyball team recorded a team GPA of 3.378 and was one of 146 NCAA Division I programs to 4 2014-15 Awards Team Awards Baseball Spirit Unit MVP - Mark Fowler Cheer MVP - Joshua Caudill Raider Award - Michael Timm Cheer Raider Award - Garrett Potts Men’s Basketball Dance MVP - Natalie Schaiper Dance Raider Award - Jordan Ludwig Kendall Griffin Raider Award - Kendall Griffin Men’s Swimming Women’s Basketball MVP - Mitch Stover MVP - Tay’ler Mingo Raider Award - Kile Aukerman Raider Award - Abby Jump Women’s Swimming Men’s Cross Country MVP - Emily Hayhow MVP - Kameron Powell Raider Award - Kortney Mullen Raider Award - Nick Durkee Men’s Tennis Women’s Cross Country MVP - Lauri Makikalli MVP - Alexandra Brown Raider Award - Alex Smith Raider Award - Brittany Bailey Sarah-Ann Blount Women’s Tennis Golf MVP - Linsey Verstrepen MVP - Nick Scott Raider Award - Abby Lewis Raider Award - Ryan Wenzler Women’s Track (Indoor) Men’s Soccer MVP - Sarah-Ann Blount MVP - Eric Lynch Raider Award - Natassia Roberts and Raider Award - Gustav Svensson Brittany Bailey Women’s Soccer MVP - Allie Metzler Women’s Track (Outdoor) Raider Award - Kelsey Deal MVP - Natassia Roberts Raider Award - Brittany Jones and Softball Sarah-Ann Bount MVP - Kortney Tackett Kendall Griffin Raider Award - Reagan Stofcheck Volleyball MVP - Ashley Langjahr * The Raider Awards are given annually by each Raider Award - Rachel Kremer Lauri Makikalli sport to the student-athlete who gives the most emotionally, physically and mentally on and off the court or field. Department Awards Dr. Michael Cusack LifeSkills Award Sarah Weidner Sarah Weidner, Swimming & Diving Dr. Carl Benner Male Scholar Athlete of the Year Jason DeFevers, Baseball Dr. Carl Benner Female Scholar Athlete of the Year Samantha TenEyck, Swimming & Diving Peg Wynkoop Female Athlete of the Year Tay’ler Mingo, Women’s Basketball Don Mohr Male Athlete of the Year Mark Fowler, Baseball Mark Fowler Terry Hall Coach of the Year Greg Lovelady, Baseball 5 Choosing Wright State was my best decision ever … Brittney Whiteside (’07) Major: Psychology Today: Associate Athletics Director, Appalachian State University Brittney Whiteside ranks No. 6 on Wright State’s women’s basketball career scoring list. She starred for the Raiders from 2004–07, leading the team in rebounding and scoring each year. Whiteside played professional basketball in Germany before returning to Wright State as special assistant to the athletic director. “I was doing rehabilitation counsel- student-athletes are treated,” Whiteside ing, but I didn’t really have a passion said. “That experience is second to none, for it, so when Bob reached out, I knew whether you are in the SEC or Big Ten. I was passionate about athletics, and They make it a special place. I used to Wright State is home to me, so of course meet with recruits, and I would tell them, I wanted to come back,” Whiteside said. ‘When you go to Wright State, your needs “In my two years there, I learned so are taken care of, and you will love your hen Brittney Whiteside chose much about athletic administration, I experience. It feels like a family. That to attend and play basketball at knew it was the career path I wanted to experience for four years is going to be WWright State University, she had be in.” great.’” no idea what a life-changing decision she Whiteside, now 30 years old, said Whiteside loved everything about her had made. the invitation to join the staff is just one experience as a student, but it was her Back then, Whiteside had a vague plan example of how “Wright State is a special time on staff that still impacts her most for her life.