FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, December 18, 2008

CONTACT: Ted Breidenthal 816/474-7264, ext. 119 tbreidenthal@d3independents.org www.d3independents.org

Association of Division III Independents

Names 2008 All-Independent Men's and Women's Cross Country Teams

KANSAS CITY, MO.--- For the fourth year in a row, harriers from Nebraska Wesleyan University earned major honors as the All-Independent Cross Country teams were announced today by the Association of Division III Independents.

 

Nebraska Wesleyan’s Jackie Spelts, a junior from Burwell, NE, was named the female runner of the year after she finished third at the NCAA Central Regional (22:06 6K) and fifth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships (21:11 6K). 

 

Nebraska Wesleyan’s top male runner, Andrew Laflin, a junior from Hickman, NE, was voted the male runner of the year.  Laflin, who led the Prairie Wolves to a seventh straight NCAA Central Regional championship with a seventh-place finish, suffered from an irregular heartbeat and was unable to compete in the NCAA national championship race.  Successful surgery was performed and Laflin is expected to begin running again soon. 

 

Nebraska Wesleyan landed four runners on the men’s first team – Laflin, Brian Copley, Logan Watley and Neil Wolford – and two runners – Spelts and Bridget Baldwin – on the women’s first team. 

 

Nebraska Wesleyan runner Malaina Huebert, a freshman from Adams, NE, was named the women’s rookie runner of the year.  University of Maine, Presque Isle harrier Justin Fereshetian, a freshman from Turner, ME, was voted as the men’s rookie runner of the year.   

 

Coaches Adam Boothe of the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Jody Hawkins of the University of Dallas, shared women’s coach of the year honors, while Nebraska Wesleyan’s Ted Bulling was named the men’s coach of the year.  

 

The All-Independent Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams were selected by the men’s and women’s cross country coaches from the Association of Division III Independents member schools.

 

Women’s First Team 

Jackie Spelts, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Carina Hendricks, Senior, University of California, Santa Cruz

Mikayla Murphy, Sophomore, University of California, Santa Cruz

Bridget Baldwin, Senior, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Angela Cuba, Junior, University of Dallas

Women’s Second Team 

Malaina Huebert, Freshman, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Rachel Fichthorn, Senior, Salem College

Lupe Cazares, Junior, Mills College

Haley Sutter, Sophomore, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Catherine Sercer, Freshman, University of Dallas

Women’s Honorable Mention 

Hannah Smith, Sophomore, University of Maine-Presque Isle

Lauren Meek, Junior, Salem College

Jenny Cain, Freshman, University of California, Santa Cruz

Shelly Hanson, Junior, University of Maine-Presque Isle

Michelle Phillips, Senior, University of Maine-Presque Isle

Julie Piernikowski, Sophomore, Salem College

Olivia McAndrews, Sophomore, Lancaster Bible College

Mariah Olivera, Freshman, Mills College

Angie Sandoval, Junior, Mills College

 

Men’s First Team

Andrew Laflin, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Brian Copley, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Logan Watley, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Neil Wolford, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Sean Trott, Sophomore, Lancaster Bible College

 

Men’s Second Team

Justin Fereshetian, Freshman, University of Maine-Presque Isle

Chris Cresci, Freshman, Chapman University

Greg Pivarunas, Junior, University of Dallas

Kurt Whisler, Sophomore, University of Maine-Presque Isle

Emerson Wright, Senior, University of Maine-Presque Isle

Joseph Lynne, Sophomore, University of Dallas

 

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 17 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition in seven sports in 2008-09. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. The Association provides statistical services for its members in seven sports. In addition, it will announce All-Independent teams at the conclusion of eight other sports this year.