2006 Honors

Merrick and Mitchell named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes

Jacob Merrick, junior from Clearwater, and Ashley Mitchell, junior from Great Bend, were named this week NAIA/Daktronics Cross Country Scholar-Athletes for the 2006 season.

Merrick ran a season best 28:53.3 in placing 32 nd at the NAIA Region IV championships. A 2002 graduate of Clearwater, Kan., High School, Jacob is a junior majoring in auto restoration.

Mitchell ran a season and collegiate best of 22:34.8 at the Tabor Invitational. A 2005 graduate of Great Bend, Kan., High School and in her second year of attendance at McPherson College, Ashley is currently a junior academically and on schedule to graduate in three years. She is majoring in graphic design.

“We were please to have two of our runners named to the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete teams.”

“We appreciate the leadership Jacob and Ashley have provided in the classroom as well as their contributions to the team and our campus community.”

Recipients of the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete award must have a minimum grade point average of 3.50 on a 4.00 scale, be a junior or above in academic standings, and been in attendance at the nominating institution a minimum of one full school year.

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Bulldog harriers earn All-KCAC honor

McPherson College junior Israel Ortiz and sophomore Brent Bailey have been named to the 2006 All-KCAC (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) cross country team by virtue of their placings in the recent KCAC cross country championships.

Ortiz was named to the All-KCAC first team while Bailey earned honorable mention recognition.

Israel Ortiz, a 2004 graduate of Limon (Colo.) High School and transfer from Pratt (Kan.) Community College, finished fifth at the KCAC Championships in a time of 27:41.7. He would later qualify for the NAIA National Championships with a fourth place finish in the Region IV Championships where he ran a school record time of 26:03.4 for the 8-kilometer distance.

The son of Jesus and Maria Ortiz of Limon, Colo., Israel is a biology/pre-med major at McPherson College.

Brent Bailey, a 2005 graduate of Limon (Colo.) High School was named to the All-KCAC honorable mention team after placing 15th at the KCAC Championships. Bailey ran a season best 27:50.2 at the Friends Invitational to move into the fifth spot on the McPherson College all-time 8-kilometer list. Bailey's 2006 KCAC finish duplicated his 2005 KCAC 15th place finish when he was also named to the All-KCAC honorable mention squad.

Brent is the son of Don and Janet Bailey of Simla, Colo. He is a sophomore business major.

Ortiz and Bailey were previously high school teammates at Limon High School.

“ Israel and Brent worked hard this year and even though the conference meet was more competitive this year, they turned in the improved performances to earn the conference recognition,” said McPherson College head coach Dave Smith. “Both came to school after a summer of running so they were prepared to have great years.”

“Both are leaders in practice. They as well as the rest of the team have set goals for next year and we look forward to putting in the hard work it takes to continue to improve as individuals and as a team.”

McPherson head coach Dave Smith was named "KCAC Men's Coach of the Year."

"I was completely surprised by this," said Smith.  "I believe this speaks highly for our young men and the improvement our program has shown."

CONTACT
Athletic Director
LaMonte Rothrock
Asst. to Athletic Director
Karen M. Caylor
Sports Information
Carol Swenson



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