2006 William Jewell College Fall Sports Recap Football Under the direction of second-year coach Fran Schwenk, the football team finished 5-5 overall and finished in fourth place in the Heart of America Athletic Conference standings. The Cardinals were represented by eleven players on the Heart of America All-Conference Teams. Players on the HAAC First Team were defensive lineman Wade Smith, linebacker Anthony Simone and defensive back Loren Henry. Henry received the most first-team votes of any other defensive back in the conference. Running back Leon Wiggins and offensive lineman Brian Hoette were named to the All-Conference Second Team. Offensive lineman Matt Callaway, place kicker Stephen Bader, defensive lineman Justin Wright and defensive back Ty Hawkins were named to the All-Conference Third Team. Linebacker John Egorogu and defensive back Zach Cunningham were named as All-Conference honorable mention selections. For the fourth consecutive year, the William Jewell College men’s athletic teams were honored with the Heart of America Athletic Conference Commissioners’ Scholarship Award. Jewell’s men’s athletic teams had the highest GPA in the conference with a 2.960. The 2005-2006 HAAC Commissioners Male Scholarship winner was junior football player Stephen Bader with a GPA of 3.848. Stephen is the starting kicker for the Cardinals and is a physics major. Volleyball Led by head coach Allison Jones, the volleyball team finished 20-11 overall and won the HAAC Championship for the first time in history. The Cardinals also advanced to regional play, where they lost in the region semi-finals to McKendree College. The regional semi-finals finish marked the first time that the Cardinal volleyball team has advanced to regional play. At the conclusion of the season, setter Tori Hallett and outside hitters Kyli Hufford and Danielle Miller were named to the HAAC All-Conference First Team. Middle blocker Anna Dickerson was named to the All-Conference Second Team. In addition, middle blocker Jamie Johnson and libero Nickey Crail were named to the Honorable Mention All-Conference team. Men’s Tennis The men’s tennis team was led by second-year head coach Paul Worstell this fall and played in three tournaments. The first tournament of the season was held in Wichita. In doubles action, the team of first-year players Cooper Payne and Michael Holmes advanced to the semi-finals of their doubles flight, where they lost a hard-fought match to a doubles team from Baker University 8-3. First-year player Brandon Ambroske and junior Clint Stull advanced all the way to the championship match of their doubles flight before they lost a competitive battle to a team from Newman University 8-5. The next weekend the men continued their improved play at the Bethany College Tournament. Ambroske continued his strong debut by reaching the championship match of his singles flight before losing to an opponent from Seward County Community College. Sophomore Michael Holmes reached the semi-finals of his flight before losing to Baker University’s Michael Cation in a third set super-tie break. Sophomore Grant Scarfino won the consolation bracket of his singles flight for the second straight week. In doubles play, the duo of seniors Chad Thomason and Matt Fine won the consolation bracket of their doubles flight and Holmes, along with first-year player Cooper Payne, won the consolation bracket of their flight as well. Ambroske and Clint Stull reached the semi-finals of their flight before losing to a team from Fort Smith, Ark. At the Fall Regional Intercollegiate Tennis Association tournament, the men faced some tough competition. Ambroske was the only player to advance past the first round but fell to an opponent from Graceland University in the second round. The men began their spring season February 10, 2007 in Lincoln, Neb. Women’s Tennis The women’s tennis team also competed in three fall tournaments. The team looked rusty and tight at the Wichita Invitational. Sophomore Sydnee Mela was the only Cardinal to advance to the second round in singles. Mela and first-year player Angela Gambino advanced to the championship of their doubles flight before losing to a team from Oklahoma Christian. The Cardinals were more successful at the Bethany tournament. Sophomore Rachel Ibok from Liberty won her singles flight over an opponent from Nebraska Wesleyan in a third set super-tie break. Ibok also teamed up with junior Brittney Goldschmidt to win a doubles flight over a team from Nebraska Wesleyan. Senior Jessica Williams and junior Allison Cobb won the consolation bracket of their doubles flight by defeating a team from Newman University. Sydnee Mela and Angela Gambino won the consolations of their doubles bracket by defeating a team from Hastings College. The Fall Regional Intercollegiate Tennis Association tournament proved to be a historic event for the Cardinals. For the third straight year, the doubles team of senior Jessica Williams and junior Allison Cobb won the Small College Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Regional Championships. Williams and Cobb defeated Melissa Shank and Jamie Lawrenz from Baker University 8-6 in the finals. The doubles duo qualified to compete at the National Competition October 12-15 in Fort Myers, Fla. They finished eighth at the tournament and are currently ranked 24th in the nation in doubles. Senior Jessica Williams advanced to the championship match in singles before losing to an opponent from Graceland. Williams is currently ranked 49th in the nation in singles. The women have a busy spring schedule ahead, with their first match scheduled for February 17 in Lincoln, Neb. Women’s Soccer The William Jewell College women’s soccer season ended early. The team lost a close regional semi-final to the HAAC Champion Graceland Yellowjackets 1-0. The Lady Cardinals finished the season 14-4-2, notching second place in the HAAC standings. Jewell set an HAAC record by placing eight players on the All-Conference team. Defender Megan Penrod, midfielders Megan Gray and Ashley Tanner and forward Nicole Revenaugh were named to the Heart of America All-Conference First Team. Defender Erica Greco was named to the All-Conference Second Team. Defender Kathleen Hatfield, midfielder Katie Brooks and forward Abby Mott were named to the All-Conference Third Team. In addition, Megan Penrod was named the HAAC Defensive Player of the Year. Four members of the team were named NAIA All-Americans. Midfielders Megan Gray and Ashley Tanner, forward Nicole Revenaugh and defender Megan Penrod were all named as Honorable Mention All-Americans. The team excelled in the classroom as well, with three Cardinals being named to the NAIA Academic All-American team. Those team members are Nicole Revenaugh, Erica Greco and Megan Gray. Men’s Soccer The William Jewell College men’s soccer team enjoyed a historic 2006 season. The team finished 18-3-3 and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament Final Four. The Cardinals also became the first men’s team in history to finish with a perfect 9-0-0 in the prominent Heart of America Athletic Conference. William Jewell coach Chris Cissell was named HAAC Men’s Coach of the Year, Region V Coach of the Year and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas Coach of the Year. He also became the first coach in the history of the NAIA to guide a men’s and women’s team to the final four. Defender Josh Howard, midfielders Kevin and Allan Nekuda and forward Matt Happy were named to the Heart of America All-Conference first team. Goalkeeper Andy Shields, defenders Justin Park and forwards John Barber and Austin Williams were named to the All-Conference Second Team. In addition, Josh Howard was named as the Heart of America Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Allan Nekuda was awarded the title of MVP of the Conference. Jewell men’s soccer also set an HAAC record this year for placing the most players on the All-Conference team. Three members of the team were also named National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-Americans. Midfielder Allan Nekuda was named to the NAIA All-American first team. Defender Josh Howard was named to the NAIA All-American second team and forward Matt Happy was named as an Honorable Mention All-American. Cross Country The Cross Country team competed in the very competitive HAAC this year. The team recorded some personal best times, and junior Alexandra Braden was named to the NAIA Academic All-American Team. Braden, a native of Defiance, Mo., compiled an impressive 3.59 Grade Point Average. In order to earn NAIA Academic All-American status, a player must be a junior or above in academic standing and have a GPA average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year.