2015 VU Cross Country Online Media Guide
Transcription
2015 VU Cross Country Online Media Guide
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY MEN’S & WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY 2015 MEDIA GUIDE HEAD COACH CHRIS GAFNER VINCENNES UNIVERSITY QUICK FACTS Location: Vincennes, IN Founded: 1801 Enrollment: 5,600 Nickname: Trailblazers School Colors: Blue & Gold Affiliation: National Junior College Athletic Association Interim President: Chuck Johnson Vice-President for Legislative & Financial Affairs: Phil Rath Interim Provost: Laurel Smith Assistant Provost for Student Affairs: Lynn White Executive Director of External Relations: Kristi Deetz Athletic Director: Harry Meeks Athletic Secretary: Lesa Tucker Athletic Trainer: Joe Haan Sports Information Director: Troy Guthrie VU Athletics Telephone Number: 812-888-4511 VU Athletics Fax Number: 812-888-5129 Web Site: govutrailblazers.com Facebook: facebook.com/trailblazer.willie Twitter: @VUBlazerSports Head Cross Country Coach: Chris Gafner (Siena Heights University 2001) Phone: 812-888-5178 / E-Mail: [email protected] Assistant Cross Country Coach: Les Martin (Vincennes 1978) Media Guide Credits: The Vinncennes University Cross Country Online Media Guide was produced by the VU Sports Information Department. Photos courtesy of Doug Wise (special thanks to Doug), Matt Griffith and Amber Nixon. 2015 VU CROSS COUNTRY ROSTER WOMEN’S ROSTER NAME Wendy Catalan Breanna Gahagan Chloe Heller Janeth Magana Kelly O’Shea Toni Waddell NAME CL. Fr So So Fr So Fr HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL Indianapolis, IN/Pike Noblesville, IN/Noblesville Washington, IN/Washington Indianapolis, IN/Pike Valparaiso, IN/Wheeler Mount Vernon, IN/Mount Vernon MEN’S ROSTER CL. Joshua Backes So Tre’ Bower Fr Solomon Dillard-Reynard Fr Nathan Dugger So Eric Johnson So Brayden Little Fr Jaden Page Fr Talen Taylor Fr Adam Warren So Coach Chris Gafner Assistant Coach Les Martin HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL Evansville, IN/North Ellettsville, IN/Edgewood Martinsville, IN/Martinsville Vincennes, IN/Lincoln Jasonville, IN/Shakamak Vincennes, IN/Lincoln Wheatland, IN/South Knox Vevay, IN/Switzerland County Speedway, IN/Speedway HEAD COACH CHRIS GAFNER Coach Gafner enters his 10th season as head coach of the VU men’s and women’s cross country programs. He also coaches the Trailblazer men’s and women’s track & field programs, assuming both positions in March 2006 after three years as a VU assistant coach. Prior to his arrival at Vincennes, Coach Gafner was an assistant at Lansing Community College. He also coached at Mt.Vernon Academy in Salt Lake City, Utah. Since Coach Gafner took over the Trailblazer programs, VU athletes have broken school records in more than 45 different events. They have also garnered 18 national championships, 44 NJCAA All-American designations and placed nationally 138 times. Coach Gafner has also led five VU teams to compete in the NJCAA National Cross Country Championships. In 2011, both the women’s and men’s program finished in the top 10 of the NJCAA outdoor national championships for the first time in school history. The women’s program finished seventh and the men’s team was ninth. In 2013, freshmen TaPring Goatee and Robert Murphy led VU as Goatee finished fifth in the women’s race and Murphy was 13th in the men’s race at the NJCAA Div. I National Championships. Goatee was named a First-Team NJCAA All-American and Murphy earned Honorable-Mention NJCAA All-American honors. A 2001 graduate of Siena Heights University, he also attended Lansing Community College. During his college career, Coach Gafner was a seven-time national qualifier in track and a member of two national champion cross country teams. He holds USATF Level I and II certifications. Coach Gafner resides in Vincennes with his wife Linzie, sons John and James and daughter Emma. 2015 SEASON MEETS/EVENTS DATE TIME MEET/EVENT LOCATION Sept. 5 10 a.m. Franklin College Shelbyville, IN Sept. 18 3:30 p.m. Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN Oct. 3 1 p.m. Greater Louisville Classic Louisville, KY Oct. 17 11 a.m. (CST) U. of Evansville Invitational Evansville, IN Oct. 31 12 p.m. (EST) NJCAA Regional 12 Meet Lansing, MI Nov. 14 TBA NJCAA National Championships Fort Dodge, IA Nov. 21 TBA NJCAA Half-Marathon Levelland, TX ASSISTANT COACH LES MARTIN Les Martin begins his first season with the VU Cross Country coaching staff. “Les will be a very valued addition to the program because he’s a tremendous resource in so many ways besides helping at practices,” VU Coach Chris Gafner said. “Along with everything else, he’ll help out with manning study hall hours and just being there with our studentathletes to assist them in different areas of their lives.” Martin also figures to put his stamp on the program in recruiting. “I think that will really help us in seasons to come,” the coach said. “He has helped us with track and we have had some incredible student-athletes as a result of his work, especially in the Indianapolis area because of his experience coaching and the coaches he knows so well.” Martin began his Trailblazer coaching tenure with last spring’s track & field season, working with the middle-distance and distance runners. A student at VU from 1976-78, he was the head track & field coach at Brebeuf Jesuit Prep School in Indianapolis, IN; track & field and cross country coach at Harshman Middle School in Indianapolis; track & field and cross country coach at Arsenal Technical in Indianapolis and track & field and cross country coach at George Washington High School in Indianapolis. He Was also track & field and cross country coach at Crispus Attucks, Northwest, John Marshall and Emmerich Manual high schools in Indianapolis over the years. In addition, Martin was formerly the track & field meet director for the conference championship of Indianapolis Public Schools two years and USATF youth chairperson for Indiana for two years. Along with his coaching achievements, Martin has competed in seven marathons, including the Boston and New York marathons. 2015 VETERAN RUNNER PROFILES MEET THE TRAILBLAZER VETERANS JOSHUA BACKES SOPHOMORE HOMETOWN: EVANSVILLE, IN HIGH SCHOOL: NORTH BACKES’ 2014 NJCAA NATIONAL MEET TIME: 27:49.27 MEET THE TRAILBLAZER VETERANS NATHAN DUGGER SOPHOMORE HOMETOWN: VINCENNES, IN HIGH SCHOOL: LINCOLN DUGGER’S 2014 NJCAA NATIONAL MEET TIME: DID NOT RUN MEET THE TRAILBLAZER VETERANS BREANNA GAHAGAN SOPHOMORE HOMETOWN: NOBLESVILLE, IN HIGH SCHOOL: NOBLESVILLE GAHAGAN’S 2014 NJCAA NATIONAL MEET TIME: 20:53.92 MEET THE TRAILBLAZER VETERANS CHLOE HELLER SOPHOMORE HOMETOWN: WASHINGTON, IN HIGH SCHOOL: WASHINGTON DID NOT RUN IN 2014 MEET THE TRAILBLAZER VETERANS ERIC JOHNSON SOPHOMORE HOMETOWN: JASONVILLE, IN HIGH SCHOOL: SHAKAMAK JOHNSON’S 2014 NJCAA NATIONAL MEET TIME: DID NOT RUN MEET THE TRAILBLAZER VETERANS KELLY O’SHEA SOPHOMORE HOMETOWN: VALPARAISO, IN HIGH SCHOOL: WHEELER O’SHEA’S 2014 NJCAA NATIONAL MEET TIME: 19:45.30 MEET THE TRAILBLAZER VETERANS ADAM WARREN SOPHOMORE HOMETOWN: SPEEDWAY, IN HIGH SCHOOL: SPEEDWAY WARREN’S 2014 NJCAA NATIONAL MEET TIME: 28:41.59 MEET THE TRAILBLAZER NEWCOMERS TRE’ BOWER ELLETTSVILLE, IN EDGEWOOD WENDY CATALAN INDIANAPOLIS, IN PIKE SOLOMON DILLARD-REYNARD MARTINSVILLE, IN MARTINSVILLE BRAYDEN LITTLE VINCENNES, IN LINCOLN JANETH MAGANA INDIANAPOLIS, IN PIKE JADEN PAGE WHEATLAND, IN SOUTH KNOX TALEN TAYLOR VEVAY, IN SWITZERLAND COUNTY TONI WADDELL MOUNT VERNON, IN MOUNT VERNON 2015 SEASON OUTLOOK As with many junior college sports, the Vincennes University Cross Country Team’s 2015 season is full of “unknowns” and “ifs.” But VU Coach Chris Gafner believes the Trailblazers are also brimming with potential for the upcoming campaign. The Trailblazers are facing 2015 without the program’s two most prolific distance runners in history, NJCAA All-Americans Robert Murphy and TaPring Goatee, who were at times borderline dominant performers in 2013 and ’14. But, with an infusion of freshman talent and eight returners from 2014, the VU men and women figure to be an interesting group as the season wears on, Gafner said. “So far, this group is meshing well and working hard, and that’s a good sign,” he said. “We’re fairly healthy, which is another good thing. It’s hard to tell how anyone will compete until the competition actually starts. “We have a little bit of a lack of experience and that can take a toll early,” he added, “but I think, as the season goes on and we gain that experience, I have to feel good about where this team is headed.” Five first-year runners join men’s veterans Joshua Backes (Evansville, IN/North), Nathan Dugger (Vincennes, IN/Lincoln), Eric Johnson (Jasonville, IN/Shakamak), Ethan Sparks (Spencer, IN/Owen Valley) and Adam Warren (Speedway, IN/Speedway), while three freshmen will combine with sophomores Kelly O’Shea (Valparaiso, IN/Wheeler), Breanna Gahagan (Noblesville, IN/Noblesville) and Chloe Heller (Washington, IN/Washington) to make up a small VU women’s contingent. Heller, who ran for the Trailblazers in the 2013 cross country season, was added to the team late in August this year after deciding to run when she had initially declined to use her remaining year of NJCAA cross country eligibility. Gafner hopes the developing band of runners will seize “training” opportunities in the regular season to perform like seasoned competitors at the right time, specifically the Region 12 and NJCAA National Cross Country meets. The veteran coach is seeing strong signs of VU runners possibly being in the thick of things when those post-season dates arrive. “Adam Warren is looking very strong right now; I think he is going to be set up for a very good second year, and Kelly O’Shea looks very strong on the women’s side,” Gafner said. “Both of them put in a good block of training and put in the miles over the summer and that will be to their benefit. We have a solid group of returners on the men’s side and we have a couple of freshmen who will contribute to our top seven. It’s a cliché but we’ll just try to keep getting better each time out. Gafner also said Dugger had an excellent summer and Johnson has gotten past some injuries so he looks like a strong contributor as well. If all goes as planned, Sparks will redshirt this season. “On the women’s side, we have six solid runners right now,” he continued. “The issue is that we only have six (female) runners right now. So, we have to stay healthy but the ladies we have are going to be strong competitors.” Gafner said a couple of the members of the women’s team were late signees and missed out on some training time but he has seen traits in the runners that give him confidence they can “catch up” by the region meet. “I really don’t think we have anyone on the teams right now who won’t put in the work,” he said. “It’s just a matter of, when you get to that first meet, who will have the mentality that’s needed to compete. We’ll find out.” The 2015 edition of VU Cross Country will certainly have a different team-wise approach. Over the past two seasons, the Trailblazers looked to Murphy and Goatee to pave the way in each race. This season, it could be anyone’s day to shine brightest. Gafner said he envisions more variety in the front of the pack for VU this season. THIS IS VU: A CLOSER LOOK History: VU is now embarking on its third century of providing top quality education. VU is Indiana’s first college and is one of the oldest in America. It is the birthplace of one of the nation’s first two-year institutions of higher learning. Founded in 1801 and incorporated as Vincennes University November 29, 1806, VU is one of only two U.S. colleges founded by a President of the United States. William Henry Harrison founded VU and Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia. Situated on the banks of the Wabash River, the 160acre VU campus includes more than 30 modern buildings featuring red-brick construction consistent with the first campus building, the 1803 home of VU’s founder, William Henry Harrison. The Harrison mansion is open for tours. The campus also features red-brick walkways, abundant landscaping, and easy access to the legendary Wabash River and the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. Vincennes is about 120 miles southwest of Indianapolis at the junction of U.S. highways 41, midway between the cities of Evansville and Terre Haute. Accreditation: VU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. VU maintains its accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission through the Academic Quality Improvement Program process. VU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. VU Mission: VU, Indiana’s first college, is the State’s premier transfer institution and leader in innovative career programming. The VU community ensures educational access, delivers proven associate and baccalaureate programs, and offers cultural opportunities and community services in a diverse, student-centered, collegiate environment. The VU Mission Statement was revised in 2005 by a committee which gathered input from the VU community as well as examining the roles of the University. VU Vision: VU is a premier learning institution, widely recognized for leadership in innovation and delivery of successful educational experiences. A broad range of program offerings and a commitment to superior service ensure the University’s role as an important link in Indiana’s economic and cultural vitality. VU is a diverse community whose members all share responsibility for supporting the University mission and are respected for their contributions. NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In May 1938, representatives from area institutions of higher learning gathered in Fresno, CA, to form a unique collegiate athletic organization dedicated to America’s community and junior colleges. The meeting led to the adoption of a constitution and a new organization: the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Seventy-six years later, the NJCAA is now the second-largest national intercollegiate athletic governing body in the United States, with over 500 member colleges in 43 states. Recognized as the leader in two-year collegiate athletics, the NJCAA champions both athletic and academic opportunities for student-athletes in concert with its member colleges. Follow the NJCAA on: NJCAA TV: www.njcaatv.ihigh.com Facebook: facebook.com/njcaa Twitter: twitter.com/njcaa or @njcaa ABOUT the NJCAA: The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) is the governing body of two-year college athletics, offering athletic and academic opportunities to college students. It is the second largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States with over 500 member schools in 43 states. Each year over 60,000 studentathletes compete in one of 28 different sports and the organization sponsors 48 national championship events and nine football bowl games. Media Information: www.njcaa.org NJCAA information regarding all sports and related items is available on the NJCAA web site. The site contains updated statistics and results for NJCAA member institutions’ athletic programs. The Trailblazers & the Vincennes University Alumni Office invite all alums to stay connected by joining our online communities: Facebook: www.facebook.com/trailblazer.willie Twitter: @VUBlazerSports Web Site: www.govutrailblazers.com Stay Connected ! 1002 N. First St., Vincennes, IN 47591 www.govutrailblazers.com