Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Bring Home The Hardware
June 3, 2003
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Six Mid-American Conference championship plaques, two MAC tournament trophies, and individual honors galore sum up an incredibly successful year for Central Michigan University athletics.
The six conference championships in men's cross country, field hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, men's basketball, and men's outdoor track and field helped the Chippewas to their best nine months since joining the MAC 31 years ago. The six MAC titles are the most that CMU has won in a single season. Prior to the 2002-03 season, the Chippewas had won four conference championships in one season on four separate occasions. CMU is used to the success, however. While the amount of the success CMU had this season was unprecedented, the Chippewas have won at least one MAC title in each of the last 22 seasons.
Not only did the Chippewas enjoy team success this year, but also many of their student-athletes reveled in their competition. Four Chippewa athletes went on to garner All-America honors. The first to collect the coveted honor was cross country runners Tristen Perlberg and Jake Flynn. Perlberg was 31st with a time of 30:30 at the NCAA championship meet while Flynn finished five seconds later in 35th. Jackie Bozin was the third All-American in 2003-04, clearing 5-9 1/4 at the NCAA indoor track and field championships. Rounding out the All-America efforts this season was wrestler Jason Mester, who finished fifth at the NCAA wrestling championships.
There were three MAC "Players of the Year" that came from CMU. Standout field hockey goalkeeper Janel Spero led her team to their first-ever MAC regular season title and was named "Co-Player of the Year." Basketball center Chris Kaman racked up the most honors. To go along with his "Player of the Year" distinction, he was also the MAC "Defensive Player of the Year," MAC tournament MVP, and an honorable mention Associated Press All-American. Softball utility player Michelle Brander was the third MAC "Player of the Year" honoree.
The Chippewas landed 42 of their student-athletes on the All-MAC team, 20 of which earned first team laurels. The wrestling squad led the way with six total All-MAC athletes but gymnastics had the most first-teamers with four.
Of course, none of this could happen without the help of outstanding coaches. The Chippewas had six MAC "Coach of the Year" selections this season. Cross country mentor Craig Fuller, field hockey coach Cristy Freese, wrestling head Tom Borrelli, and basketball skipper Jay Smith each won the honor this year. Also, men's track and field head coach Jim Knapp won the distinction twice, after guiding his team to a second-place showing at the MAC indoor championships and the MAC outdoor title.
However, there was only one notable casualty among all the success. Knapp lost a bet with his student-athletes and subsequently lost all off his hair. Upon hoisting the MAC championship plaque, the athletes each took a turn shaving off the hair and trademark beard of the 18-year veteran head coach.
 Men's cross country won their fifth MAC title in 2002.  |
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The cross country team capped off its most successful season ever with a ninth-place finish at the NCAA championships. Tristen Perlberg and Jake Flynn led the way at the NCAAs as each earned All-America honors. Prior to the NCAAs, CMU edged perennial power Eastern Michigan for the MAC championship. In one of the most hotly contested championships ever, it was a one-point, 39-40 win in favor of the Chippewas. Four Chippewas won All-MAC distinctions. Perlberg and Flynn were first-teamers while Luke Humphrey and Dave Ernsberger were second team designees. Head coach Craig Fuller earned MAC "Coach of Year" for his efforts.
 Meg Lewis and the field hockey squad were co-MAC champions and finished the season ranked 17th in the nation. |
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The Chippewas chalked up 14 wins on the season, third most in school history, and tallied a CMU record seven wins in MAC play. CMU won a share of the regular season title, rallying behind the top goaltender in the league. Janel Spero was "Co-Player of the Year" as the four-year netminder led the MAC in nearly every single statistical category. Jeanette Spero, Kristy Reed, and Jocelyn Gates joined Janel on the All-MAC field hockey squad as head coach Cristy Freese won MAC "Coach of the Year" for the third time in her career. The Chippewas ended the 2003 campaign ranked 17th in the nation.
 Katie Teft scored the first perfect 10 on the bars in school history. |
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The Chippewas turned in one of the best seasons in gymnastics history. Katie Teft and Michele Orloski tallied the first perfect 10 in school annals in their respective events. Teft scored a 10 twice on bars while Orloski tallied two perfect performances on the floor. Moreover, new team standards were set for each exercise, including Kara Reighard's 39.625 on the all-around. The Chippewas set a new school mark with a team score of 197.425 at the MAC championships and finished tied for second at the NCAA regionals, the best Chippewa finish ever. Three student-athletes qualified for the NCAA national championships while five gymnasts were named All-MAC. Bethany Courturior joined Teft, Orloski, and Reighard on the first team and Sarah Dame earned second team accolades.
 Jason Mester won the MAC title at 141 and went on to a fifth-place finish at the NCAAs. |
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The Chippewas won their fifth straight regular season championship, but had to share it with co-champions Kent State and Northern Illinois. After posting a 4-1 regular season conference record, the Chippewas went on to win their third straight MAC tournament title, riding the efforts of MAC champions Kyle Stoffer (125 pounds), Jason Mester (141), and Brett Faustman (197). Stoffer was named MAC "Freshman of the Year" and Borrelli was named "Coach of the Year." Seven grapplers advanced beyond the MAC championships and into the NCAAs. Ty Morgan, David Bolyard, Kevin Carr, and Russ Vanderheyden each joined CMU's MAC champions at the tournament. Mester went on to grab All-America honors with a fifth-place showing at the national championships.
Men's Basketball:
CMU posted the most wins in the history of Chippewa basketball with a 25-7 overall record. Jay Smith's squad won the regular season conference title with a 14-4 mark and then captured the MAC tournament crown by winning all three games by a double-digit margin. The success didn't stop there as CMU defeated No. 15-ranked Creighton, 79-73, in the first round of the NCAA tournament before falling to perennial national power Duke. Chris Kaman hauled in several awards, and senior Whitney Robinson earned the conference's inaugural "Sixth Man of the Year" award. Kaman rewrote several school records and ranked among the national leaders in several statistical categories, including leading the nation in double-doubles with 25.
 Men's outdoor track and field won the first ever MAC championship in school history. |
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CMU unseated five-time defending champion Eastern Michigan to win the school's first ever outdoor track championship. Five athletes were named All-MAC and were led by its two throwers, Mike Sidlauskus and Pat Walderzak. Sidlauskus won the discus title while Walderzak was the hammer throw champion. Each were first team All-MAC. Steve Wolf proved to be CMU's most valuable performer, scoring 24 points with three second-place finishes (high jump, long jump, and triple jump). Jim Knapp won "Coach of the Year" and saw 16 student-athletes and two relay squads qualify for the NCAA regional meet.
Director of Athletics Herb Deromedi is proud of the achievement by the athletes, coaches, and team: "It takes a total team effort for these accomplishments to occur. A part of that team effort has been the contributions of alumni and friends of CMU through the Chippewa Club. I'd like to encourage those people to continue their support knowing that they are playing an important role in our efforts to compete at a high level in the Mid-American Conference and outside competition." To join or renew your membership with the Chippewa Club, call 989-774-6680 or visit www.cmuchippewas.com.