CSR (Calvin Athletes Participate in SAAC Retreat/Men's Tennis Team Earns Academic Honors)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR August 9, 2007

CALVIN SAAC ATHLETES PARTICIPATE IN MIAA CONFERENCE
MEN'S TENNIS TEAM/PLAYERS RECEIVE ITA ACADEMIC HONORS

MIAA SAAC RECAP
(Written by MIAA Publicist Tom Renner)

Student-athletes from the member colleges of the Michigan
Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) participated in the
conference's first-ever Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC)
retreat the weekend of August 4-5 at Mackinac Island.

SAAC representatives from Calvin included Calvin assistant volleyball coach Laura Tucker, Molly Krikke, Todd LaForest and Lindsey Peuler. The retreat was organized as part of a league-effort to enhance student-athlete leadership and heighten institutional commitment to student-led initiatives on the various MIAA campuses. The Student Athletic Advisory Committee is part of the MIAA's governance system.

The retreat was supported by the National College Athletic Association (NCAA).

The group of 40 students and advisors heard from league officials on topics such as the history of the nation's oldest collegiateconference and the philosophy of Division III athletics. They were also brought up-to-date on issues facing NCAA Division III,

Each school's representatives shared how they have sought to involve
their campus communities through activities, service projects and
educational initiatives such as sportsmanship, substance abuse and
gambling. They also shared their plans for the upcoming school year.

"As this was our first retreat, I was very pleased by both the group that
attended, and the energy and commitment they brought to our discussions and activities," said Commissioner David Neilson. "We expect to see some
very positive outcomes as a result of our efforts. We are blessed to
have outstanding student-athletes on our MIAA campuses."

MEN'S TENNIS

For the fourth straight year, the Calvin men's tennis team has received the prestigious All-Academic Team Award from the International Tennis Association (ITA). The ITA All-Academic Team award is open to any ITA program that has a cumulative team grade point average of 3.20 or above (on a 4.00 scale).

Under the direction of fourth year head coach John Ross, the Calvin men's tennis team posted a cumulative team GPA of 3.43.

In addition, six members of the Calvin men's tennis team have received ITA Scholar-Athlete accolades. In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status a player needed to have been a varsity letter winner and posted a grade point average of at least a 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for the recent 2006-07 academic year.

Receiving ITA Scholar-Athlete honors from Calvin are graduated seniors Rafael Siebenschein, Dan Volkema and David Sneller and juniors Michael Goorhouse and Ricky Tilton and freshman Andrew Rescorla.

Siebenschein is from Lynden, Washington. He is a graduate of Lydnen Christian High School. Volkema and Goorhouse are both graduates of Holland Christian High School with Volkema hailing from Spring Lake and Goorhouse from Holland. Sneller is from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of Sheboygan County Christian High School. Tilton is from Gap, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Lancaster County Christian High School. Rescorla is from Zionsville, Indiana.

The Calvin men's tennis team posted an overall dual match record of 18-6 this past spring. The Knights also finished tied for second in the final MIAA standings and earned a bid to the NCAA III Tournament.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Thu Aug 9 17:40:23 2007