The Online Reflector

Compiled by Samantha Cotten & JP Sinclair | Managing-Sports Editor & Business Manager

14 ALL-AMERICAN STUDENT ATHLETES

SOFTBALL

Megan Russell

The Lady ‘Hounds’ NCAA Championship run came to an end at the World Series when they lost to Lock Haven 2-0 in Salem, Va. On May 23. The team finished fourth overall. After the season, senior Megan Russell was honored with one of the University of Indianapolis Athlete of the Year awards. Russell shattered the school homerun record in 2009, and helped pitch the team to its first NCAA Division II Softball World Series. Additionally. Russell nabbed her third All-American honor by being named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Second Team.

BASEBALL

Ben Sondgeroth

The men’s baseball team saw its season come to a close in the finals of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional. Grand Valley State topped the ‘Hounds 5-4 and 4-3 to move on to the World Series.
2009 graduate Ben Sondgeroth and senior Chase Kittinger received their second all-region first team nomination, while 2009 graduate Justin Russell made the Midwest Gold Glove Team. Sondgeroth  also gained an All-American status after being named to the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association 2009 NCAA Division II All-American Third Team.

WOMEN’S GOLF

Lyndsay McBride, Kristi Piepenbrink, Ashley Seaton, Allison Tyler

Senior Lyndsay McBride finished the 2009 women’s golf season on top by winning the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Individual Championship at Findlay Country Club in Findlay, Ohio on May 13. Recent graduate, Kristi Piepenbrink, joined her in the top five, as the pair led the Lady Greyhounds to a third place tie.
McBride was nominated for the 2009 NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year, representing golf, and was also earned Great Lakes Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. McBride, Piepenbrink, senior Ashley Seaton and junior Allison Tyler were named to the National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team for Division II, as the team was ranked 16th among all divisions in the NGCA’s 25 NCAA Women’s Golf Teams with the highest average GPA.

MEN’S GOLF

Justin Hueber, Kyle Pearson, Seth Fair

Sophomore Aaron Monson led the men’s golf team to a team finish of sixth with his fifth place individual finish at the 2009 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship on May 22. He was later named the 2009 Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. Monson continued his success by winning the 2009 PGA Indiana Open at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course on June 10. Fellow teammates, 2009 graduates Justin Hueber, Kyle Pearson and senior Seth Fair were each named Division II Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholars by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

MEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Seth Galloway, Willie Little

The ‘Hounds nabbed two All-American honors at the 2009 NCAA Division II Men’s Track and Field Championships with junior Seth Galloway leading the way with fifth place finish in the javelin throw. 2009 graduate Willie Little also received honors after finishing seventh in the hammer throw. Junior Craig Myers narrowly missed honors as he placed ninth in the hammer throw.

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Andrea Horban, Amy Schmitz, Emily Schaf

2009 graduate Andrea Horban became a six-time All-American with a second place finish in the shot put at the NCAA Division II Women’s Track and Field Championships. Horban was joined at the Championships by 2009 graduates Amy Schmitz and Emily Schaf, both of which also earned All-American honors by finishing fourth in the hammer throw and fifth in the high jump, respectively. Senior Courtney Kuzmicz rounded out the team with a 13th place finish in the discus throw. Schaf was named to the College Sports Information Directors Association of America ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women’s Track and Field Third Team, and also was named a Great Lakes Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Schmitz, Kuzmicz and Schaf were each named US Track & Field Division II Scholar Athletes of the Year.