The Truman Report: October, 2012
GLVC member Truman State's fall sports performance for October
Jessica Yocum, GLVC Intern
Getting to Know the Truman State University Bulldogs
This past June, Truman State University (Mo.) was introduced as the newest member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) after the league’s Council of Presidents voted unanimously to accept the Truman Bulldogs into the conference. The Bulldogs will begin play in the GLVC in all sports beginning in the fall of 2013, competing as the league’s 16th member.
Throughout the 2012-13 season, GLVCsports.com will highlight the performances of each in-season Bulldog team from the previous month as Truman concludes play in its final year in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Sport |
Truman |
GLVC (arv - Also Receiving Votes) |
Football |
-- |
#19 Indianapolis, #20 Missouri S&T |
Volleyball |
#13 |
#15 Indianapolis, arv Lewis |
Men's Soccer |
-- |
#4 Rockhurst, #15 Quincy |
Women's Soccer |
-- |
#13 Quincy, #22 William Jewell |
Men's Cross Country |
-- |
#11 Southern Indiana |
Women's Cross Country |
-- |
#24 Southern Indiana |
ACADEMICS
The NCAA
recently released Division II Academic Success Rate data and for the seventh straight year, Truman Athletics posted an ASR above 90%. Individually, all 20 of Truman’s intercollegiate sports well exceeded the national average. The report represents data from first-time freshman, as well as transfers and non-scholarship athletes who entered Truman between 2002 and 2005. The NCAA developed the ASR to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. The rate holds institutions accountable for transfer students, unlike the federal graduation rate. The ASR also accounts for non-scholarship athletes in Division II. The ASR has been calculated the past seven years and for all NCAA championship sports. Truman’s ASR rate this year was at 92%, while, the Division II national average was 72%. Five of Truman’s sports had a perfect 100% ASR rate, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Cross Country/Track, Women’s Golf, Softball and Women’s Swimming. Only 14 Division II Football programs had an ASR rate above 80% with Truman, Simon Fraser (British Columbia), Colorado School of Mines and the University of Minnesota-Duluth being the only public schools on that list.
FOOTBALL
The Truman football team sits 3-6 in MIAA action and 4-6 overall. Three of the Bulldogs’ last four losses have come against nationally-ranked opponents. Sophomore Garrett White is currently leading Truman with 108 rushing yards in conference play. Junior Conrad Schottel is carrying the passing yards for the Bulldogs and ranked 10th in the conference in pass efficiency at 52%. Senior Richie Schumacher leads the team in tackles for the second straight season, in addition to a pair of interceptions. The Bulldogs will host their last home game this weekend against conference for Lindenwood, which is coming off its biggest win of the season over defending national champion Pittsburg State.
VOLLEYBALL
The 13th-ranked Truman Volleyball team is going into their final weekend ranked fourth in the conference with a 13-3 record, and 25-5 overall. They have clinched a spot in the MIAA Championship that will be held Nov. 16-17th. The Bulldogs are currently third in hitting percentage in the MIAA. Leading the team is Allie Brak with 231 kills and Abby Heise with a .371 hitting percentage and 19 service aces in conference play. Heise is currently second in hitting percentage and fourth in aces for the MIAA. Regionally, Truman is ranked sixth. The team concludes the regular season this weekend with matches at Emporia State and Northwest Missouri.
MEN’S SOCCER
The Truman men’s soccer team has concluded their 2012 season. With a 7-2-1 conference record and 10-6-1 overall mark, the team finished third in the MIAA. Participating in the MIAA Championship, the Bulldogs lost in the semifinals to Northeastern 2-0. Among MIAA members, senior Andy Chapman tied for first in shots, shots per game, goals, and goals per game. Chapman is also leading the conference in points and points per game. Teammate Charlie Backus led the conference in assists and assists per game. Both Chapman and Backus were named to the MIAA All-Conference First Team. Junior Matt Langley received MIAA All-Conference second team accolades for the Bulldogs. Chapman breaks the NCAA Top 25 in points per game, total points, goals per game, and total goals. Backus leads Division II in assists per game and is second in total assists. To finish the season, Andy Chapman, Drew Garrone, and Jacob Schrier were named to the Capital One Academic All-District First Team. Regionally, Truman is ranked 3rd.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
The Truman women’s soccer team concluded their season with a 12-6-1 overall record and an 8-4 third-place finish in the MIAA. The Bulldogs led the MIAA in points, assists, and assists per game. The team was tied for second in goals and goals per game. Individually, Olivia Hayes placed third in shots. Teammate Trisha Shoemaker was tied for fourth in goals and Melanie Hunt led the conference in assists and assists per game. Hayes and Kelsey Ridgway were named to the MIAA All-Conference First Team, while Shoemaker and Kelsey Twellman were named to the MIAA All-Conference Second Team. Truman lost in the MIAA Championship Semifinals 1-0 to Fort Hayes. Regionally, the Bulldogs were ranked eighth in the Central Region. Hayes also received Capital One Academic All-District First Team honors.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Truman’s men’s cross country team recently completed the MIAA Championships with a ninth-place finish. The Bulldogs were led by sophomore Brad Hart who placed 34th with an eight-kilometer time of 26:42.19. Truman concluded their season this past weekend at the NCAA Central Regional held in Joplin, Mo. Hart was once again the top finisher, placing 81st overall to help the Bulldogs to a 19th-place result.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
The Truman women’s cross country team recently competed at the MIAA Championships and finished seventh overall. Earning her second individual title, senior Karen Grauel finished the six-kilometer course in 22:11.59, a 13 second lead over the second-place finisher. The Bulldogs concluded their season at the NCAA Central Regional in Joplin, Mo., placing 12th overall, led by Grauel in 17th individually.
WOMEN’S GOLF
The Bulldogs concluded their fall season with a team win at the Bulldog Classic. Teammates Jessica Tomash (86-80--166) and Kim Barmettler (83-85--168) battled it out for the top spot resulting in Tomash taking the crown. The Bulldogs won the event with a score of 684 (347-337). The team will return to action this spring.
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
The Truman Basketball programs kick off their season Nov. 9th, with the men playing William Penn while the women continue exhibition play at Illinois-Chicago. The men’s program was chosen 13th in the MIAA Coaches Poll. The women’s program was picked to finish seventh by the league coaches.