PRINCIPIA COLLEGE
Athletic Department
Elsah, IL 62028

May 16, 2007

For Immediate Release                                       Contact: Jenny Moeller

 Erikson Named Head Swim Coach

The Principia College Athletic Department is pleased to announce that Carl Erikson has been named head men’s and women’s swimming coach.

Erikson comes to Principia from the University of Pitt-Bradford, where he was the head swim coach for the past two years. In those two years, Erikson took the team from club status to NCAA division III varsity status.

Before coaching at Pitt-Bradford, Erikson received his Masters in Education with a concentration in Athletic leadership/administration from Goucher College, where he also served as assistant swim coach from 2003 to 2005. He was the head swim coach of the Weymouth Club Swim Team in Massachusetts from 1999 to 2003 and the assistant coach at Principia from 1994 to 1999.

With over ten years of collegiate coaching experience, Erikson brings much to the table.

Athletic Director Lee Suarez says, “We are very excited to have Carl join our department and bring his expertise to the aquatics program.”

Erikson will coach the swim team in its first-ever season in the new natatorium. In reference to the 8-lane, 40-meter stretch pool and diving boards, Erikson says, “We have a facility that will allow for some of the best training opportunities that any Principia team has had in a very long time. I see a tremendous opportunity for the swimmers and divers to maximize their desire and potential, to take them as far as they can dream.”

In discussing why he’s excited to return to Principia, he remarks, “One of the best things about attending and working at Principia is that you are expected to learn and teach about the whole man. As a student, I was taught directly and indirectly that what you do and how you do things are not a result of the specific activity, but are a result of who you are. So, it is important to learn and be challenged to learn more about yourself.”

Erikson graduated from Principia College in 1991, earning a B.A. in History and Biology. He was a member of the varsity swim team at Principia for four years and was captain of the team his senior year.

Principia is a private liberal arts college in southern Illinois, 45 minutes north of St. Louis, Missouri.

For more information please contact Assistant Sports Information Director Jenny Moeller at 618-374-5031. 

PRINCIPIA COLLEGE
Athletic Department
Elsah, IL 62028

May 16, 2007

Panther Player Scouted by Oakland A’s

On Tuesday May 8th, a professional baseball scout for the Oakland A's came to Principia College to watch junior Louis Clough play.  The scout was very impressed by Clough's abilities as well as a couple other players and is looking forward to returning next year for Clough's senior year.  Clough plays right field for the Panthers and has been a SLIAC All-Conference selection for the past two years.  Major League baseball scouts look for players that have the "tools of the game".  Clough has many of these tools:  Speed, ability to hit for average, ability to hit for power, a strong throwing arm, and is a solid defender.

For more information please contact Sports Information Director Vitalis Otieno at 618-374-5025.

PRINCIPIA COLLEGE
Athletic Department
Elsah, IL 62028

May 16, 2007

Baseball Trio Earn All-Conference Honors

Josh Reesman, Nick Brock, and Louis Clough all earned SLIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention for their performances this season.  Reesman was the Panther's team captain and led the team to a 14 win season--one of its most successful seasons in quite some time.  Reesman led the conference in hitting with a .418 batting average and also led the conference in defensive assists.  Nick Brock batted .395 in conference and drove in the most runs fora third basemen.  Brock also played a stellar defense at the hot corner picking up the pitching staff on numerous occasions.  Louis Clough put together another fine season for Principia batting .312 and leading the team with 11 stolen bases.  He also had two saves on the mound.

For more information please contact Sports Information Director Vitalis Otieno at 618-374-5025.

PRINCIPIA COLLEGE
Athletic Department
Elsah, IL 62028

May 10, 2007

Principia College baseball player Josh Reesman had a terrific season for the Panthers and in the process became the first Principia player to lead the SLIAC in hitting.  The senior from Rockville Centre, NY led the SLIAC Conference in hitting with a .418 batting average.   Aside from his contributions to the team offensively, Reesman also led the conference in assists at shortstop.  Coach Pete Paciorek had high praise for Reeseman’s leadership.  “This year, Josh was a true leader on the field and led the baseball team to the second most wins in a season (14) since entering the SLIAC in 1991.

For more information please contact Sports Information Director Vitalis Otieno at 618-374-5025.

PRINCIPIA COLLEGE
Athletic Department
Elsah, IL 62028

May 10, 2007

Principia College Baseball Players Earn Professional Tryouts

May 8, 2007 Panthers Josh Reesman and Mike Vernon were invited to attend a professional baseball tryout with the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League in Michigan.  Reesman and Vernon are graduating seniors who have aspirations of continuing their baseball careers after college.  Both players worked their way through the morning portion of the tryout, where all participants were taken through a traditional professional baseball tryout regimen comprised of the following:  a timed 60 yard sprint, defensive fielding and throwing, and batting practice. 

Reesman and Vernon both made it to the afternoon portion of the tryout.  They were amongst seven participants out of close to 50 who made it to the highly competitive live pitching/hitting session comprised of the top pitchers going against the top hitters.  During that session, both Reesman and Vernon proved that they could compete with the multitude of Division One and professional athletes.  Playing against pitchers throwing harder than 90 mph they both did an outstanding job swinging wood bats.  Reesman had two base hits during the competition and drew multiple walks.  Vernon also swung the bat well and had two base hits. 

Out of the more than 50 participants, the Kings only kept three players.  Though neither Reesman nor Vernon made the team, it was a terrific experience for these two Panthers, who represented Principia well. 

Senior starting catcher for the Panthers, Nash Whitney, has an individual professional tryout on June 9^th with the Fort Worth Cats (a professional baseball team in the American Association).

For more information please contact Sports Information Director Vitalis Otieno at 618-374-5025.

PRINCIPIA COLLEGE
Athletic Department
Elsah, IL 62028

May 7, 2007

Women Tennis Players Receive Accolades

The Principia College Women’s Tennis team had 5 players selected to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference team.  Kat Pomeroy led the way with her 4^th consecutive all conference award coupled with her third conference player of the year award. Playing at the #1singles and as part of the #1 doubles, the senior from Wantage, NJ was also twice voted as player of the week during the season.   Other honorees included #2 singles Cory Sprague and #4 Ashley Ragnow .  The 2005 Newcomer of the year from San Deigo, CA Sprague, teamed up with Pomeroy at the number 1 doubles while holding onto the #2 singles spot in the conference.  At #4 Ragnow proved to be a formidable foe in the conference while providing depth to the Panthers.  The doubles partnership of Senior Heather Ruszczky and Freshman Jamie Furbush received honorable mention to round up the honors, wrapping up a very productive season in which the women made it to the first round of the NCAA tournament.

For more information please contact Sports Information Director Vitalis Otieno at 618-374-5025.

PRINCIPIA COLLEGE
Athletic Department
Elsah, IL 62028

April 30, 2007

For Immediate Release                                                               Contact:Vitalis Otieno

WILLIAM WOLPER NAMED COMMISSIONER OF

ST. LOUIS INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

ST. LOUIS, MO. . . . The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) announced today that William J. Wolper has been named the Conference’s first full-time Commissioner.  Wolper, the Director of Information/Assistant to the Commissioner for the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, will officially begin his duties with the SLIAC on August 1.

“Throughout the search process Will Wolper impressed the committee with his attention to detail, commitment to Division III and his belief in the future of the SLIAC,” Tom Hart, Webster University Athletics Director and Chair of the search committee, said.  “While employing the first full-time Commissioner of the Conference is exciting, having someone with the experience and enthusiasm Will provides will be an immediate impact for all ten schools.”

“I cannot put into words my level of excitement as I become part of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  Both the SLIAC and I have a strong vision for the future and I look forward to working with the Administrative Council to make those visions a reality,” Wolper said.  “I see a number of similarities between the SLIAC today and the Iowa Conference when I started six years ago, and hope that we can make as much progress in six years as the IIAC has.”

Among Wolper’s duties will be to serve as the Conference’s chief administrative officer; uphold, interpret and enforce the rules and regulations of the SLIAC and the NCAA; oversee the addition of football as a Conference sport; serve as a liaison between the sports committees and the Administrative Council; explore additional revenue streams for the Conference; and work with the Conference’s sports information director to improve its world wide web presence and increase media interest.

“I wholeheartedly believe in and support the NCAA Division III philosophy that athletics are an integral part of the overall educational experience, and it is quite obvious the SLIAC administration similarly hold the values and principals of Division III in high regard.  I intend to be visible around our campuses as it is the best way I know to show my support for our student-athletes as they pursue their goals both on and off the field of competition.”

In his six years with the IIAC, Wolper oversaw the media and public relations efforts of the nine-school, 19-sport Conference.  He also assisted Commissioner John Cochrane in all aspects of the day-to-day running of the Conference including rules compliance, conduct of championships, meetings and special events.

The 31-year-old Massachusetts native succeeds Rich Meckfessel who is retiring after seven years leading the Conference.

“The SLIAC is losing a great leader and individual to whom the Conference owes a great deal of credit for the position that it is in,” Wolper said.  “I will use the foundation Rich has laid to further move the Conference forward.  He has been, and will continue to be, an invaluable resource for me as I begin to lead the SLIAC.  I look forward to spending as much time as possible with him over the next few months so the transition can be as seamless as possible for our student-athletes and administrators.”

“Rich has provided excellent leadership to the Conference and laid the groundwork for us to move forward,” Linda Anderson, Maryville University Athletics Director and President of the SLIAC Administrative Council, said.  “He was instrumental in developing our Constitution and By-Laws, introducing tournament play, and increasing our recognition in the NCAA.  He gave us full-time work as a part-time Commissioner and leaves the Conference in a great position for Will to take over.”

Wolper received his Bachelors Degree in sports management from Springfield ( Mass.) College.  Prior to joining the Iowa Conference he served as Director of Media Relations for the St. Louis-based United Hockey League (1998-2001) and as Assistant Manager of Media Relations and Communications for the American Hockey League (1997-98).

Wolper, his wife Robyn, and their two young sons will relocate to the St. Louis area this summer.

The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is comprised of 10 schools and sponsors 12 sports competing at the NCAA Division III level.  The Conference will begin sponsoring football and add two affiliate members (LaGrange ( Ga.) College and Huntingdon ( Ala.) College) beginning with the 2008-09 academic year.

For more information please contact Sports Information Director Vitalis Otieno at 618-374-5025.

PRINCIPIA COLLEGE
Athletic Department
Elsah, IL 62028

May 2, 2007

For Immediate Release                                                               Contact: Jennifer Moeller

Principia trains Special Olympics athletes at the new Crafton Center

Athletes from Beverly Farm Foundation came to the brand new Coach Crafton Athletic Center at Principia College Wednesday, April 25, to train for the Special Olympics with Principia coaches and student-athletes.

The Beverly Farm athletes have been training for the May 12 Special Olympics at their own facility, but were thrilled to get a chance to practice at the new Crafton Center. It was the first time that many had gotten the opportunity to compete on a track with actual lanes marked. 

About 35 coaches and athletes from Principia turned out to assist in the training. They staffed three different stations: long jump, running, and throwing. At the long jump station, the Beverly Farm athletes practiced jumping into the indoor sand pit. Principia athletes ran alongside the Beverly Farm athletes on the 50-meter straightaway of the indoor track to practice running for the specified distance and running in a straight line. At the last station, Principia athletes and coaches paired up with the Beverly Farm athletes to practice throwing softballs to each other.

Principia event coordinator and head diving coach Eric Phillips says, “It was wonderful to see both Beverly Farms and Principia College athletes get a better understanding of themselves by interacting with each other. I can’t wait to do it again!”

Beverly Farm Foundation is a not-for-profit home and training center for adults with developmental disabilities. It is home to approximately 380 adults and is located on the northern edge of Godfrey, Ill.

Principia is a private liberal arts college in southern Illinois, 45 minutes north of St. Louis, Missouri.

For more information please contact Assistant Sports Information Director Jennifer Moeller at 618-374-5031.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      courtesyofNCAAsports   

Monday, April 30, 2007                                                              

INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Committee has selected the 48 teams that will compete in the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championships.

The teams will play a single-elimination tournament with the first, second and third rounds played at regional sites.  The quarterfinal, semifinal and final rounds of the team championship will be played May 15-17 and the individuals championships will be played May 18-20 at the University of Mary Washington Battleground Complex hosted by the University of Mary Washington.

            The championship provides for a 48-team tournament.  Automatic qualification (AQ) is granted to 32 conference champions, which form "Pool A."  Eight teams are selected from true independents and schools from conferences that do not have an automatic bid for their champions (Pool B).  The remaining eight teams are selected from those teams in conferences with automatic bids that did not win their conference's AQ and the remaining Pool B institutions (Pool C).  The teams are geographically paired, whenever possible.