Before the indoor meet in March, it had been 10 years since Eastern Mennonite had sent two women in the same year to the national meet.

Similar to what she did two months ago, Chappell-Dick again qualified in two events, the 800m and the 1500m, but she elected to concentrate on the 1500m and pass up a spot in the other event.聽 She choose the mile over the 800m at the indoor meet and ended up with the silver medal and All-American status from that effort.

Chappell-Dick enters the national meet as the No. 8 seed, claiming an ODAC-record top time of 4:30.97 from the Duke Twilight on May 6.聽 The preliminaries of the 1500m will be run at 3:45pm Thursday afternoon, with the top four from each of the two heats along with the next top four runners advancing.聽 The 12-woman finals are set for Saturday at 1:30pm, with the top eight finishers earning All-American status.

Chappell-Dick did have the No. 4 time nationally in the 800m (2:09.37) but will concentrate on the 1500m.聽 She participated in the 800m in the national outdoor meet last year.

Lehman punched her ticket in the 5000m, where she will be seeded No. 17 with her time of 17:08.75 from the Colonial Relays on April 3.聽 She is one of just two freshmen in the field of 22 women in the event.聽 Lehman enters nationals with an interesting dynamic, as she has not run competitively since the ODAC Championships on April 17 and 18 while she studied in Hawaii on a three-week cross-cultural program.

The 5000m has just one race, scheduled for 4:05pm on Saturday.

Both women have also been to the nationals in cross country, with Lehman going this past fall and Chappell-Dick doing it as a sophomore in 2013.

Men’s hurdler (Winchester, Va./Millbrook) just missed qualifying for nationals in the 400m hurdles.聽 With his best time of 53.45, the freshman had been No. 18 in the nation heading into the final week of last chance meets, but he was passed by a handful of other men and ended No. 25.聽 Only the top 20 finishers go to the national meet on the men’s side.聽 Faint was just 0.11 second off of the final qualifying time of 53.34.

Most recently, she has been the head coach at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Va., for five years, while working as a transitional specialist in the special education department there since 2001.聽 Jackson also founded and directs the C’ville United FHC, a travel field hockey club.

“I’m excited to tackle the challenge of coaching in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference,” Jackson explained.聽 “It’s a conference with a rich history of strong field hockey programs and fierce competition between schools from season to season.聽 I’m also looking forward to a step up in intensity and commitment that comes from working with athletes at the collegiate level.”

Director of Athletics Dave King said Jackson brings a wide range of expertise into her first collegiate coaching position.

“I’m very excited to have E.A. join our staff and begin the next chapter of our storied field hockey program,” King said.聽 “Her experience with both high school and club field hockey will help her make a successful transition to the collegiate level.聽 Having played Division III field hockey and coaching many players who have gone on to play in college, E.A. knows what it takes to play at our level and I am confident she can move the program upward within the ODAC.”

Jackson played collegiately while earning her undergraduate degree from Mary Washington, before adding a Masters in Education from George Washington University.聽 She was named the district Coach of the Year after her first season at Albemarle in 2009.聽 A number of her players have gone on to play in college, at both the D-I and D-III levels, including two women currently in the ODAC.

The new coach takes over a Royals field hockey program which has won 11 ODAC Championships, second-most in league history, and owns nine NCAA Tournament appearances.聽 91短视频 has not won a title since 2003, however, and last played in the championship game in 2009.

“I’ve seen the team play; the foundation is here,” explained Jackson.聽 “We’ve got a solid core of returning players who are hungry to help me usher in the fall season with a renewed sense of purpose and focus. 聽There’s no way to get around hard work and a focus on the basics skills that every player needs to be able to perform to the best of her ability.聽 I’m excited to see what this group of athletes can do when they work diligently together in pursuit of an ODAC Championship!”

Jackson’s Virginia roots will help her tap into the area’s recruiting base while expanding the existing reaches up the East Coast.

“Her involvement with the club program in Charlottesville along with her connections to field hockey programs throughout the state will help her in the recruiting efforts,” explained King.聽 “Knowing coaches and club programs is an important component to recruiting.聽 I’m confident that her connections will increase our ability to recruit, not only from Virginia but into Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.”

She is excited to springboard off the prestigious history of 91短视频 field hockey while moving in a new direction.

“Energy, passion for the game of field hockey, a focus on the collective good of the team rather than pursuit of individual accolades,” Jackson explained as trademarks of her teams. 聽“I’m specifically interested in working with athletes who want to train with intensity and win with integrity.聽 I’m also excited to work with (and recruit) athletes who respect and understand the tradition of excellence of the 91短视频 field hockey program. 聽I seek students who are willing to push themselves to uphold our core values and the established culture of the program, while at the same time are courageous enough to be a part of something new at 91短视频.”

After being active in introducing field hockey to the general population of Charlottesville, Jackson is also looking to connect Harrisonburg with the program at Eastern Mennonite.

Chappell-Dick completes an incredible indoor season with the race, earning All-American honors for the first time in her career.

Chappell-Dick led the pack in the early stages of the race, only to be passed by a pair of runners with a lap to go. Coming around the final curve, the junior made a move on the outside to slip back ahead of one of the women, earning her second-place finish. She was just 0.64 behind the gold medalist, senior Alison Maxwell of Middlebury. Chappell-Dick’s time was also a mere 0.44 off her ODAC record time of 4:56.37, which was run on Feb. 21 on the same JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C.

After Friday’s preliminaries, 91短视频’s miler had the top time of the 17 participants, clocking at 5:01.22.

Chappell-Dick becomes Eastern Mennonite’s first All-American since men’s shot putter聽Nathan Turner聽in 2007. The top eight in an event earn All-American status. The last women’s All-American was聽Megan Mlinarchik聽in the pole vault in 2005. The silver medal at the national meet also gave Chappell-Dick the highest finish by a Royal since Hall of Honor member聽聽was the runner-up in the indoor pole vault in 2002.聽 Rosenberger won four indoor and outdoor titles during her time and remains 91短视频’s only National Champion in track & field.

During the indoor season, Chappell-Dick broke four 91短视频 records (800m, 1000m, mile and distance medley relay) and also took down the ODAC record for the mile.聽 She won three events at the ODAC Championships (800m, mile and DMR) and earlier this week was named the South/Southeast Region Athlete of the Year.

Eastern Mennonite’s outdoor season begins next weekend, with the W&L Carnival in Lexington on Friday and Saturday.

聽(Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) broke her own 91短视频 record for the indoor 800m. She topped the field of 10 runners with a time of 2:13.43, giving her the No. 6 time in the nation this season.聽 Her previous record came earlier this season at a time of 2:15.07.

Despite not running the event at today’s meet, Chappell-Dick is still No. 5 in the nation in the mile. She set her PR with an ODAC-record time of 4:56.37 in the mile two weeks ago.

聽(Dover, Ohio/Dover) broke the 10-minute mark again in the 3000m, impressively doing it while running by herself for much of the two-person race. Although she did not break her own record with the time of 9:59.70, Lehman still holds the No. 13 time in the nation with her ODAC record of 9:55.49 from two weeks ago. She is one of just 15 women to run under 10 minutes this year.

The field of NCAA National Championships participants will be released Monday morning. The top 17 women in each individual event qualify, meaning both Lehman and Chappell-Dick feel comfortable about qualifying in their respective events. 91短视频’s junior would likely pick between the mile and the 800m if she qualifies in both.

The national meet is next Friday and Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The Saints, with a record of 27-0 and ranked No. 1 in the national poll, will play USA South champion Greensboro College, 24-4, in the other game.

The Lady Redhawks of La Roche won the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference title for the fifth straight season to earn their postseason spot. 91短视频 and La Roche, from Pittsburgh, do not have any common opponents this year.

Game times will be determined later this week, although the women expect to play on Friday. Ticket information will also be released soon.

The Royals had been the No. 2 team in the South Region in both regional rankings released during the season before losing to eventual ODAC champion Virginia Wesleyan in the semifinals. 91短视频 went 15-1 in ODAC play during the regular season, earning their third consecutive top seed for the conference tourney. That, combined with their strength of schedule, was enough for the selection committee to put them in the postseason.

This is the fourth trip to the NCAA National Tournament for the Royals, and the third in a row. They also went dancing in 2004.

Gehman led the field of 201 runners, breaking the tape of the 8k course in 25:32.36. He crossed a full two seconds ahead of ODAC rival Harrison Toney from Roanoke, who was second in 25:34.42. It was Gehman’s second individual win of the season, having also taken medalist honors at the Shenandoah Valley Invitational, but this win was obviously the biggest. Gehman not only earned his second consecutive All-Region honor with the finish, but earned the first spot out of the region at the NCAA National Championships, which are next Saturday in Mason, Ohio.

Fellow senior聽聽(Sterling, Ill./Sterling) also earned himself one more race, as he finished 14th overall and claimed the final individual berth out of the region to Nationals. His time of 25:57.10 was nearly four seconds ahead of the next runner, and also put him as the seventh ODAC runner, giving him a big improvement after coming in tenth at the ODAC Championships. Landis also earned back-to-back All-Region accolades.

厂辞辫丑辞尘辞谤别听聽(Staunton, Va./Fort Defiance) made the move up to also gain All-Region honors. He took 33rd with a time of 26:38.93. He was 43rd in the region last year.

聽(Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite), 51st 鈥� 27:09.83, and聽聽(Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton), 71st 鈥� 27:37.36, rounded out 91短视频’s top five, as the men totaled 170 points.聽 They took fifth out of 28 as a team, one point ahead of Rhodes and just five behind Christopher Newport in fourth.

The team finish is the best regional mark in the “modern” era for Eastern Mennonite.聽 The Royals were second in the region in 1979, in a race featuring just four teams.聽 They won a seven-team meet in 1978.

“I was so proud of how the men came out and competed,” said Coach Jason Lewkowicz. 聽“Their goal all year was to earn a top-5 region finish and they went out and did that in a tough region.”

聽(Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) added to the top seven by coming in 79th in 27:46.80.聽聽聽(Wichita, Kan./Wichita East) was 89th in 27:56.46.

Emory won the team title with 62 points, just ahead of ODAC rival Bridgewater with 65.

Gehman and Landis will be joined at Nationals by聽聽(Dover, Ohio/Dover), who聽.聽 That meet is this coming Saturday in Ohio and will be run on the same course that the Royals used for the NCAA D-III Pre-Nationals on Sept. 27.

The Royals were one of 158 institutions to earn an All-Academic Team recognition.聽 Eastern Mennonite had a team GPA of 3.40, easily qualifying for the award for the second straight year.聽 To earn the award, a team must have a cumulative GPA of 3.10 or higher.

Chappell-Dick, who broke two 91短视频 records and made a trip to nationals in the outdoor season, was one of 416 individuals to land a spot on the USTFCCCA’s All-Academic team.聽 The middle distance runner had the 10th-best 800m time in the nation during the season and became 91短视频’s first female track athlete at nationals since 2008.

To qualify for the team, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 and have met either of the following athletic standards: competed in an NCAA Indoor or Outdoor Championship or finished the regular season ranked in the national top 35 in an individual event or ranked in the national top 25 (collective listing) in a relay event on the official NCAA POP list provided by TFRRS.org.

Chappell-Dick, a kinesiology major, put together a 3.84 GPA to earn her second consecutive All-Academic Team award.聽 Despite recovering from a bout with mono during the indoor season, Chappell-Dick broke outdoor program records in both the 800m and 1500m.聽 She also went to the cross country national championships last fall.

This is the second national event for Chappell-Dick, as she also went to nationals this past fall in cross country.

The national track meet is this Thursday through Saturday, hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University at Selby Stadium and the George Gauthier Track in Delaware, Oh.聽 It will also be a homecoming of sorts for the Ohio native, as she runs at the meet less than 80 miles from her hometown.

The 800m preliminaries will be on Friday, with the finals Saturday afternoon.

91短视频 track coach Jason Lewkowicz said he is excited for Chappell-Dick to go to nationals as she wraps up an up-and-down year.

“Coming off of a solid cross country season, which culminated in her first NCAA cross country championship appearance, Hannah had high hopes for qualifying for NCAAs in both indoor and outdoor track,” said Lewkowicz.聽 “After coming down with mono over Christmas break, all of that became very uncertain. 聽However, since getting cleared to train in late February, Hannah has worked very hard to regain her form and has definitely earned her place at the NCAA meet.”

Lewkowicz said his runner will be a good ambassador on the nation scene.

“She is very talented and hard-working and I know she will represent 91短视频 well at the NCAA meet,” he said. 聽“I know we both feel very blessed that God has opened up this door for her and, regardless of the outcome, the primary goal will be to honor Him through her efforts on the track.”

Chappell-Dick is one of 17 men and women from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference to qualify for nationals.聽 She is Lewkowicz’s first national qualifier in track in his three years at 91短视频, and the school’s first qualifier since Michael Allen in the triple jump in 2010.聽 She is the first woman to go since Michelle Leaman in the 100m hurdles in 2008.

which includes a schedule of events, stadium information and links to live results and video.

Men’s senior high jumper (Dalton, Oh./Central Christian) was also hoping to earn a trip to nationals, but he just missed the field of 20 jumpers.聽 King finished No. 25 in the nation with his best jump of 2.04m (6-8.25ft), with the final jumpers qualifying at 2.06m (6-9ft).聽 Freshman (Staunton, Va./Fort Defiance) made large improvements late in the season, but his best time of 1:53.43 was about 1.6 seconds from the final qualifier in the men’s 800m.

Ferrum (26-2) plays Capital (19-8) at 7:00pm in the other game, with the winners meeting Saturday at 7:00pm in Ferrum.聽 The Panthers won the USA South title, while fourth-seeded Capital won the Ohio Athletic Conference.

Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and students.聽 Since there is not an overflow expected in attendance, there are no advance ticket sales.聽 Tickets will only be available at the gate.

91短视频 (22-5) takes on CNU (22-5), a team which lost 66-53 to York in the Capital Athletic Conference title game.聽 The Royals lost at York 65-52 in a non-conference game early in the season.聽 The Captains went 6-3 in games against common opponents this year, while Eastern Mennonite went 8-2 against those same teams.聽 CNU split with York during the regular season before the loss to the Spartans in the CAC championship.

Despite losing to Guilford in the ODAC semfinals, the Royals had done enough during the season to earn a bid, including rolling through conference play with a 15-1 mark.聽 The women are 1-2 against teams in this year’s field, with losses at York and Ferrum and a win over ODAC tournament champ Randolph-Macon.

This is the third-ever trip the NCAA Tournament for 91短视频, qualifying last year and in 2004.聽 They lost to Marymount in the first round last spring, in a game hosted by Christopher Newport.

There were 280 women at the national meet, and as could be expected in such a crowded field, Chappell-Dick ran near other racers throughout the entire course.聽 She finished within a single second of three other competitors, crossing second out of that foursome to claim 221st overall.

Third-year coach Jason Lewkowicz was on hand with his runner, along with teammate (St. Joseph, Ill./St. Joseph-Odgen).

“I was excited to get to witness Hannah take part in a national championship experience,” said Lewkowicz.聽 “Many times, when it is your first time, all of your excitement surrounding the event can be overwhelming.聽 Hannah got a little caught off guard by that, but bottom line is that she accomplished a goal of making it to the national meet and did so with no summer training which makes what she did all the more impressive.聽 She has a tremendous amount of talent and this is the beginning of what should be many more championship experiences for Hannah.”

Chappell-Dick is the first Eastern Mennonite female runner to qualify for nationals since in 2002.聽 Good was inducted into the 91短视频 Hall of Honor earlier this fall.

With a couple of weeks off before the indoor track & field season starts, Lewkowicz said this provides a good transition.

“It was great to have 91短视频 represented at the NCAA meet by Hannah and it moves our program one step closer to where we want to be,” he explained.聽 “We give God all the glory for our accomplishments as a team, and we’ll continue to place our focus on honoring Him as we move into the track season.”

Chappell-Dick again responded with her best running against the best athletes. The freshman ran the 800m in a heat of D-I Virginia Tech athletes, and flew across the finish line in 2:13.19, shaving more than a full second off of her 91短视频 record time. Chappell-Dick had timed a 2:14.34 in March at the George Mason Invite.聽 She finished third at the twilight meet, crossing in front of five Hokie runners.

With the NCAA Outdoor National Championships approaching on May 23-25, Chappell-Dick is 17th in the nation in the 800m. The top 22 times at the end of the season will qualify for nationals.

Senior (Fork Union, Va./Louisa County) topped the field in the triple jump and upped his season best distance for the third straight time. Allen totaled 13.61m on his best attempt.聽 He still has some work to do to qualify for nationals for a final time, as the No. 22 jumper in the nation has a distance of 14.29m.

(Broadway, Va./Broadway) ran in the 110m hurdles and clocked a time of 15.75. He missed his PR, which is 15.50.

The Royals will have one more chance to improve their times for national consideration on Monday, when they head to the Swat Final Qualifying Meet, hosted by Swarthmore in Chester, Pa.

The winner will take on either host CNU (26-2) or Guilford (23-4) on Saturday.

The Royals and Saints will play at 5 p.m. on Friday at the , preceding the CNU/Guilford contest at 7 p.m.

To purchase tickets, call the CNU Ticket Office at 757-594-7880.聽 Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Thursday, and until 5 p.m. on Friday.聽 Phone purchases will require a credit card.聽 Tickets are $8 for reserved (chairback) seats, $6 for general admission (bleachers) and $3 for students, senior citizens and faculty/staff (w/ ID).聽 All reserved seats are $8 regardless of age.聽 There will only be one session Friday night, so one ticket will get fans into both women’s games.

The winners of Friday night’s first round games will play Saturday evening at 7 p.m.聽 That game follows a CNU men’s game at 4 p.m., where the Captains host Rutgers-Newark in an NCAA Tournament First Round contest.聽 Saturday will be two separate sessions, so separate tickets would have to be purchased for the women’s game and men’s game.

Marymount is led by one of the nation’s top three-point shooters, Katelyn Fischer, who is hitting 43 percent of her tries from long range.

Top-seeded Eastern Mennonite lost to Guilford 61-59 in the ODAC Championship game on Sunday, but the national selection committee decided the women had done enough during the regular season, especially with their tough non-conference schedule, to earn a trip.聽 The women were fifth in the South Region rankings at the end of the season, after going 17-3 against in-region opponents.聽 91短视频, 15-1 in the ODAC during the regular season, also had a program-best 14-game winning streak snapped by the Quakers in the title game.

The Royals’ only previous trip to the NCAA Tournament was after the 2003-04 season.聽 They hosted a three-game bracket in Harrisonburg and beat Christopher Newport, 63-62, in the second round game.聽 91短视频 then lost to Hardin-Simmons in the Sweet 16.

Live stats will be available for all games at CNU, as will live video webcasts.

Update: After a , the Runnin Royals were 1-2 within the ODAC and 8-4 overall. The team returns to the court after the holiday break on Jan. 5 at Emory & Henry College.

91短视频 men鈥檚 basketball will quickly stop short of directly comparing this year鈥檚 team with his 2009-10 team which made the program鈥檚 only NCAA Tournament appearance.聽 But it鈥檚 hard not to compare them.

In 2009-10, the Runnin Royals returned all five of their starters from a 15-11 campaign and vaulted to the Elite Eight in the national tourney, finishing with a final record of 25-5 and a No. 4 national ranking.聽 This year, Eastern Mennonite returns all five starters from a 12-15 team, and Dean is brimming with optimism.聽 And he will compare that.

鈥淎fter the 15-11 year, going into the next year I thought we were going to be good,鈥� said Dean.聽 鈥淏ut never in my wildest imagination did I see those guys ascending to that level of play.聽 I didn鈥檛 see fourth in the country coming.聽 But to be honest, I鈥檓 just as optimistic now as I was then.聽 Can you catch lightning in a bottle twice?聽 I don鈥檛 know, but it鈥檚 certainly something we鈥檒l strive for.鈥�

The Royals are perfect at 4-0 since beginning the season on Nov. 16.

Women鈥檚 Basketball Hoping To Live Up To Own Expectations

Update: After an exciting , the Lady Royals were 2-1 within the ODAC and 5-4 overall. Play continues through the holiday break as the ladies square off against St. Mary’s College of Maryland on January 2.

Last year a young 91短视频 women鈥檚 basketball team got on a roll and finished with a 22-4 record, tied for second-best in program history.聽 Yet the Royals lost in the ODAC Tournament semifinals and missed out on the NCAA Tournament.

knew he had a talented crew last winter, but with just three upperclassmen on the roster, Griffin didn鈥檛 expect the explosion of wins his team earned.

鈥淚 was very surprised considering how young we were and what we had lost,鈥� he said.聽 鈥淭hings just sort of fell into place.鈥�

This year the eighth-year mentor returns his top six players, including all five starters. 聽Griffin acknowledges that returning core triggers an extra layer of pressure. ()

鈥淚t means that expectations are high from ourselves and from others,鈥� said Griffin.聽 鈥淎nd it means that we do have experience, which is why those expectations are so high.聽 I think everybody expects we鈥檙e going to be good and so there鈥檚 a pressure.聽 Our schedule is a lot tougher this year, but I think that pressure and schedule can be a good motivator.聽 At the end of the day it鈥檚 basketball and we just need to go play, try to improve and see what happens.鈥�

He will become the tenth head baseball coach at 91短视频 when he begins July 1, replacing interim head coach Jason Stuhlmiller who kept the program moving forward during the past year.聽 The Royals finished 11-27 and led the ODAC in team batting average in 2012.

Eastern Mennonite said that Spotts quickly rose to the top of the list from the approximately 120 applicants for the position and is the right person to build the baseball program at 91短视频.

A baseball family

“We are very fortunate to find a coach with Ben’s experience, knowledge and exposure right in our backyard,” said King.聽 “Having spent 18 years playing for, learning from and coaching with one of the best collegiate baseball coaches in the state and region in Curt Kendall (who surpassed the 600-win mark this year), Ben is definitely prepared to be a head coach.

“And it doesn’t hurt to grow up in a baseball family with his father Vic being a very successful, long-time coach at nearby Fort Defiance High School.”

Ready for the role

Spotts also believes that he is ready for the head coaching role.

“The opportunity to be a head college coach in an area that I have grown up in is exciting for me and my family,” he said.聽 “I believe the knowledge and relationships I have developed over time locally and regionally will allow for success in recruiting student-athletes to 91短视频.聽 I am eager to get on the road and begin that process.聽 I want to thank Bridgewater College and Curt Kendall for allowing me the opportunity to begin and establish my coaching career over the past 14 years.”

During his time at Bridgewater as an assistant coach, the Eagles have won five ODAC championships and made six regional appearances in the NCAA Tournament.聽 Spotts has been the recruiting coordinator for and has recruited 17 All-ODAC First Team players and three ODAC Rookie of the Year award winners. 聽In addition to recruiting duties, he has served in numerous on-the-field and off-the-field roles and ran the Baseball-Academic-Tracking (BAT) program, overseeing the academic success of baseball players.

Since 2006, Spotts has been the compliance coordinator for the Bridgewater athletic department, and has also served the college as director of residence life and judicial affairs and resident director.聽 Spotts graduated from Bridgewater College with a degree in history and political science and has a master’s degree in kinesiology/emphasis in athletic administration and coaching from James Madison University.

King noted the breadth and depth of the experiences Spotts has had at Bridgewater as a major factor that stood out to the search committee.

“The development of a successful program on and off the field begins with the leadership of the head coach,” explained King.聽 “Ben has worked with nearly every aspect of a baseball program and his experiences with the academic and student life areas of the college make him a great fit at 91短视频 as we strive to integrate athletics with the whole college experience in ways that help us meet our mission of ‘impacting lives through athletics.’聽 I expect great things from Ben and the baseball program.”

Vice President for Student Life Ken L. Nafziger, who oversees 91短视频’s athletic department, also pointed to Spotts’ experience in connecting his players’ athletic and academic efforts.

“From a student life perspective, Ben brings a strong commitment to operating as an educator-practitioner as he coaches baseball players to both know and play the game well,” said Nafziger.聽 “Ben has extensive experience holding a high academic standard for his baseball players and meeting with them weekly to review their academic progress that helps them be successful on both the baseball field and in the classroom.”

Spotts understands what it takes to be a head coach and develop a successful program.

“I am looking forward to meeting the current and incoming players on the roster to begin the process of establishing a successful program,” the new coach said.聽 “The foundation of our success will be built on a commitment to hard work and a teaching of the fundamentals of the game.聽 I am excited to play a role in the success of our players in the classroom and in the campus community.聽 The opportunity to influence players in a positive way as they prepare to lead successful and rewarding lives is one I value greatly.”

An eye on the future

King noted that this is a pivotal period for the and a key time to bring on a new coach who is excited and ready to build a program.

“The recent growth of the baseball roster and increased interest from the local community has prompted us to examine all aspects of developing a successful program,” King said. 聽“Two seasons ago a new scoreboard was installed and currently drawings are being completed for new dugouts, a press box, a netting backstop system and permanent seating behind home plate.聽 An infield tarp will also be purchased for the coming year.聽 Ben’s leadership on and off the field will greatly help us to achieve our goals for the baseball program.”

Spotts realizes that he is moving from a well-established, perennial powerhouse program to one that is ready to be built on the foundation established by alumni, many of whom still live in the local area.

“I want to thank 91短视频 for allowing me the opportunity to lead the baseball program,” said Spotts.聽 “I am excited by the direction and vision the administration has for the program and am looking forward to working with them as we strive to reach our goals.”

Ben and his wife, Angie, reside in Verona with their three children, Landon, Brady and Allie.

Nafziger, who missed last season with an injury after transferring from D-I George Mason, was running 150^th after the first mile, but his splits slowed as his Achilles acted up.聽 He finished with a time of 26:31.56 on the 8k course, taking 254^th out of 279 runners at the Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne, WI.聽 UW-Oshkosh was the host school.

Despite not finishing as high as hoped, Coach Jason Lewkowicz was still proud of his runner.

“Dan didn’t have the race that he wanted to today,” said Lewkowicz, “but I am so proud of how he persevered throughout this season through illness and injury to even get to this point of representing 91短视频 at the national championships. 聽The cold weather caused his injured Achilles to act up and keep him from being his best but there are no excuses. 聽We’ll learn from this experience, take some time to get healthy, and look towards having a strong track season.”

Ben Sathre from St. Thomas (MN) led at every split and won the individual title with a time of 23:44.27.聽 Lee Berube of SUNY Geneseo was second at 23:49.60.

Traditional power North Central (IL) won the team title easily with a total of 110 points.聽 Haverford was second with 172.

Nafziger finishes with a handful of honors from his first competitive season at 91短视频 as he was named an ODAC Runner of the Week, All-ODAC Second Team, and All-South/Southeast Region First Team.聽 This is the third straight year the Royals have had a runner at the NCAA D-III National Championships.