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) |
|
Men's Basketball |
-- |
#4 Bellarmine, #9 Kentucky Wesleyan, #11 Indianapolis, #14 Drury, #17 Southern Indiana, |
|
Women's Basketball |
- |
#7 Indianapolis, #24 UW-Parkside |
|
Men's Swimming |
-- |
#1 Drury, #7 Indianapolis, #8 Missouri S&T
(Not a 2012-13 GLVC sponsored sport) |
|
Women's Swimming |
arv |
#1 Drury, #7 Indianapolis
(Not a 2012-13 GLVC sponsored sport) |
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Off to a great start, the women’s basketball squad holds an overall record of 8-2, with two wins coming over the GLVC’s Quincy (62-52) and Rockhurst (67-49). Senior guard Becka McHenry and sophomore guards Allie Norton are averaging 12.6 and 11.7 points per game, respectively, while the Bulldogs are outscoring their opponents by 226 points. The MIAA’s leading rebounding team is paced by junior forward Bianca Szafarowicz and senior forward Jennifer Conway, with averages of 5.9 and 5.1. Dishing out the assists for Truman is Amy Briggs, while McHenry is leading in steals and Conway is blocking shots. The Bulldog women are starting conference play with a MIAA record of 1-1 by taking on conference opponents Lincoln (Mo.) and Lindenwood to start off the New Year.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
The men’s basketball team opened the New Year looking to turn the tides after a slow start. With an overall record of 4-6, the Bulldogs have played in some tight ball games, two of which came against the GLVC’s Quincy (60-62 & 76-50), while another was against Maryville (57-70). Truman has been staying in games with the help of its leading scorer and junior forward Mike Carlson, who is averaging close to 17 points per game. Carlson is also leading the rebounding campaign with 6.5 rebounds per game and junior center Marek Bush paces the offensive rebound category with 2.1 offensive boards per game. Carlson is topping the Truman statistics in steals and blocked shots, while teammate Cory Myers is dishing out a team high of nearly 3.6 assists per game. The Bulldogs now head into MIAA play beginning with Lincoln (Mo.) and Lindenwood.
MEN'S SWIMMING
The men’s swimming team has been idle since its mid-December duel with the GLVC’s William Jewell. Falling to the Cardinals by a 148-114 score, the men took home top finishes in the 200-medley relay (1:52.80). Freshman Levi Hanks topped the men’s team with four first-place finishes, one of which came from the winning relay team, while the others were in the events of 200M Freestyle (1:57.76), 200M Backstroke (2:12.22), and the 200M IM (2:13.84). The other members of the relay team included senior Tony Hernandez, junior Seth Holbrook, and freshman Alec Morgan. Other event winners included Hernandez, who won the 100M Butterfly (59.33), and senior Jerod Simek in the 800M Freestyle (8:46.46) and the 400M Freestyle (4:17.03). Idle until January 19th, the Bulldogs will take on Division I Missouri State. Then, late January brings Drury to Truman before the MIAA Championships take place.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING
Truman’s women’s swimming team took the crown during the meet with William Jewell with a score of 165-95. The women also won their 200 Medley Relay (2:05.40), while junior Casey Jepsen and sophomore Abby Hempen tied with three first-place finishes. Members of the relay team included freshman Kristi Van Oost, freshman Adrian Rudd, Hempen, and Jepsen. In addition to the relay crown, Jepsen won the 200M Freestyle (2:11.34) and the 50M Freestyle (28.05). Hempen won the 100M Breaststroke (1:16.00) and the 100M Freestyle (1:02.39), in addition to her relay. Other event winners included freshman Brynn Guardado in the 800M Freestyle (9:32.25), senior Taylor Birsa took the 200M Breaststroke (2:48.94), senior Allison Harding won the 200M Freestyle (4:39.98), and Rudd won the 100M Butterfly (1:07.03). The women will travel with the men in mid-January to Division I Missouri State and take on Drury to finish out the regular season.
MEN'S & WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
Both the men’s and women’s squads traveled to Ames, Iowa for the 2012 Iowa State Holiday Preview in early December for their opening meet of the 2012-13 campaign. Senior Ryan Peterson took top honors and marked a career best in the 600 yard run (1:11.85). Other personal highs that came from the opening event included sophomore Zach Thomas in the 600 yard run (1:15.50), junior Matt Schaefer in the 800 yard run (1:56.25), junior Patrick Fink in the mile (4:34.91), sophomore Matt LaPointe in the pole vault (13-11.25), and sophomore B.J. Smith in both the 60-meter dash (7.01) and 60-meter hurdles (8.45). The women’s team was highlighted by senior Rachel McCarroll, who became the first Bulldog to hit an NCAA provisional mark in an opening meet in the weight toss (55-07.00). Senior Dimonique McGruder also notched a personal best in the same event (45-09.25). Other top performers included senior Lisa Kucharski in the pole vault at 10-06.00 and in the 600 yard run (1:30.26), while junior Becca Nelson placed in the pentathlon with a career high 3208 points. She also shined in the 60-meter hurdles (9.29), high jump (5-00.25), and shot put (32-09.50). The Bulldogs will head back to Iowa State mid-January for the Cyclone Open.