JU WS: Blogging from Arizona

Freshman Kelly Creager (Huntley, Ill.) will be updating all the fans about the trip to Arizona. Here is her first update:

Wednesday/Thursday, September 1st-2nd

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Yesterday was fun at the airport! We had a good time relaxing and enjoying each others company. Our plane took off at 9pm and we had a few first timers, Kailyn Quinn and Season Gillian. On the flight we passed through a storm and were able to watch the lighting, which was awesome! After the plane we were very tired, pilled into 2 rentals and headed off to our hotel which was an hour away. We arrived around 230am this morning as passed out in our rooms right away! When we awoke we were able to go out to eat; had a big breakfast at the restaurant Zekes! So delicious! We practiced on Embry Riddle Universities practice field. It was VERY dry, the temperature was not unbearable. Due to the dryness of the air, the water tasted extra refreshing and went through a lot of it! After that we took a trip to Walmart and then Olive Garden for dinner. The mountains were amazing! Not a cloud in the sky and the scenery is breath taking. God is so good! We stopped to take some pictures which was fun :) So we just got in from dinner and are stuffed! We're relaxing and waiting to see what tomorrow has in store for us. We're all very excited to be here!

Judson Baseball in CCAC

In the latest NAIA/CCAC update of rankings for the conference, Judson University is first.  Here are the rankings:

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

1. Judson University (Ill.) (7-1 / 17-9)
2. University of St. Francis (Ill.) (4-1 / 10-7)
3. Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) (4-1 / 13-7-1)
4. Saint Xavier University (Ill.) (5-3 / 15-9-1)
5. Illinois Institute of Technology (5-3 / 5-8)

Judson Baseball/Softball in NCCAA

The newest NCCAA National Polls have come out and Judson University is making their presence known.  Softball is #5 in the nation while baseball is #11.  Here are the polls:

Softball
1 Olivet Nazarene University  20-2
2 Central Baptist College  28-0
3 Bethel College 17-2-1
4 Palm Beach Atlantic University  21-7
5 Judson University  14-8
6 King College 12-8
7 Spring Arbor University  11-9
8 North Greenville University  17-12
9 Asbury College  11-3
10 Indiana Wesleyan  10-10

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Baseball
1 Bluefield College 15-7-1
2 Malone University 20-5
3 Mt. Vernon Nazarene  12-6
4 Trinity International  15-8
5 Spring Arbor  15-6
6 Olivet Nazarene  13-7-1
7 King College  14-8
8 North Greenville  21-7
9 Cedarville  15-7
10 Southeastern University  17-12
11 Judson University 17-9

New Video: Men's Lacrosse

Judson University will start men's lacrosse in the 2010-11 athletic season.  Check out what new head coach A.J. Collier has to say about the new program.

SID Blog: Thoughts from Branson

Follow Adam Ledyard (Assistant Athletic Director) at the NAIA Division II National Tournament as he is with the men's basketball team.

NAIA Men’s Basketball Blog

Thursday Day 3

It was a day of travelling back to Illinois. Everybody left about 10 a.m. for the nine hour drive. We all had breakfast together at the Grand Country buffet one last time and ate with our sponsor Mitch from Copy Run. Everybody is still tired and drained from the emotional game vs. Oregon Tech. I think this trip will stay with the people that went a long time.

It is hard saying good bye to the five seniors that contributed to the Judson basketball program the past two years. They have helped to turn it around under Tony Tompkins. Two CCAC Championships (1 regular season, 1 tournament) and one NAIA National Tournament bid. Not a bad way to go out as a class. They also won 38 games and now Judson has had three straight winning seasons for the first time since the early 1960s. Congratulations to the seniors. You will be missed. The underclassmen all of something to live up to now and know what it tastes like to play at the national level.

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Wednesday Day 2

It was a bittersweet day for us all. The game vs. Oregon Tech was a very good game but left us all emotionally drained. After being down 21 points in the first half and then coming back to take the lead by three with just over four minutes to go and then losing by six was a roller coaster ride. I am so proud of the team and the coaches. To take on the Goliath of #2 Oregon Tech and to face them the way we did - the team should be proud.

I had a chance to talk to the team before the game and I talked to them about Facing the Giants and a parable from that movie about the two farmers asking God for rain on their crops. The parable came at a point in the movie where the football coach thought he was done with the team and then the pastor came in and told him that God was not done with him yet and then proceeded to tell him the parable about the faith of two farmers: Two farmers were in a drought and needed rain badly. Both farmers were praying for rain but only one farmer was preparing for the rain by working the fields. The pastor asked the coach - who do you think had the faith that it was going to rain. Then in the championship game, the coach told his other coach that he was preparing for rain because God was getting ready to come. With all that said, Judson was preparing for rain on Wednesday against Oregon Tech. God did provide for Judson in a way that we may not be able to know about. Coming back from 21 points down and then taking the lead in the second half, that was God working. The team did wonders in that game against the #2 team in the nation. Maybe God is preparing Judson athletics and basketball for rain! We just need to have the faith that God will rain on us.

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Tuesday: Day 1

Heading back to Missouri is always a nice thought for me because of my family friends and ties here in the Ozark area. It is even better this week as Judson is playing in the NAIA National Tournament. This is the second time I have been down here in three years as I came with the men two years ago in their first-ever appearance in the tournament.

Leaving at 6:45 a.m. this morning, Athletics Director Nancy Binger and I drove down to Branson for the big game. We made it in pretty decent time with just a couple of stops. As soon as we made it to Branson, we met up with the team to go to the kickoff banquet at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede. The show and food were great as they kept you entertained the whole time. We had no silverware and had to eat everything with our hands. It was quite fun!

Our sponsor, Mitch and Sue Rooker of Copy Run, is a very sweet couple. He is our sponsor for the national tournament and will be around with the team this week. He took the guys to a nice Italian restaurant earlier today and then was with us tonight at the Dixie Stampede. He and his wife were called upon for participation in the horse race (fake wooden horse that you put between your legs) with his wife down on the main floor. They both preceded to win and score a point for the North and receive a medal.

It has been nice catching up with the guys to see how they are doing. They are focused and ready to play Oregon Tech. They know they are down here on a business trip with a little fun mixed in. They want to help put Judson on the map in the national scene and an upset over the #2 team might just do that.

Well, that is it for now. We play at 5:45 p.m. tomorrow with a day full of watching basketball on schedule. Follow us through Twitter as I will be posting some of my thoughts as the game goes on at www.twitter.com/adam_ledyard.

JU Softball: Interview with Becky Stenning

The Judson University softball team opened up the season in Arizona on Monday. Read below what head coach Becky Stenning has to stay about the season. (AL: Adam Ledyard - Asst. Athletic Director; BS: Becky Stenning).

AL: How do you feel about the upcoming softball season?

BS: I am so excited to play! This is a great group of girls that have spent the winter working hard and bonding on and off the field. There is a plethora of talent on this team, and I am ready to see it come together between the lines.

AL: What are some of the goals for the team?

BS: Winning is an obvious goal, but we want to win the conference, play as one united team, and be all in and all out! We also want to break the 30-win barrier this year and win the NCCAA National Championship and go to the NAIA World Series in Alabama.

AL: How will the newcomers impact the team?

BS: We have five new faces on our team and each of them has a huge role. Not only do they provide depth, but their spirit and hard work ethic make us stronger every day.

AL: What will it take to win the CCAC and go to the NAIA National Tournament?

BS: I definitely think we have the talent. We just need to trust in ourselves, work as a team, and execute. Each of us has a role, and as long as we embrace those roles we are going to have a great year! We are at our best when we are aggressive and loud, so that is our plan!

AL: How does the competition look to be on your schedule?

BS: The competition is tough, but that's what we want. We want to push ourselves, and exceed others expectations! It's fun to go out and show people they need to worry about JU Softball!

AL: How has the team prepared to improve upon last year’s 25 wins?

BS: As a staff we have worked on getting in individuals that add depth so that in the long stretches of games we have more arms to push us through. But the team has really worked on accuracy, aggressive swings, execution, and most of all team chemistry.

AL: Heading into your sixth season as a head coach, how do you feel your program has grown in that time?

BS: I feel so blessed to see how God has grown our team. Returners continue to mature and really pick up leadership roles. They have seen improvement and really buy into our concepts. In addition, the newcomers seem very excited to be part of Judson softball. Building a tradition is important, but sometimes difficult, and it is really amazing to see it all come together. We get stronger and stronger every day, and I love to see the girls really committing to a total team effort. I am excited to see what God has planned for us next.

MBB Preview: Judson vs. #2 Oregon Tech

By: Ryan Plinske | Judson University Student Sports Information Assistant

Judson University (17-12, 10-2) will face #2 Oregon Tech (29-4, 15-3) in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Division II Men’s Basketball National Tournament. This will be the Eagles second tournament appearance. They lost in their only game played in the tournament. The Owls boast the second most tournament appearances this year with 12 to go along with a record of 26-9. Oregon Tech has won two NAIA Division II National Championships with their recent coming in 2008 and their other one coming during the 2004 season. The Owls have never lost in the opening round of the NAIA Division II Tournament.

The Eagles rank in the top 25 for seven different NAIA Men’s Division II team statistical categories. They rank fourth overall in assists per game (17.655), ninth in defensive rebounds per game (28.103), 10th in field goal percentage (0.487), 11th in scoring offense per game (85.310), 11th in total assists (512), 17th in assist/turnover ratio (1.087), and 25th in blocks per game (3.379). Judson University also has two players ranked in the top 25 for individual statistics in five different categories. Junior Jim Kuban (Pekin, IL) ranks 13th in total assists (142) and assists per game (4.897). Sophomore Josh Edwards (Mapleton, IL) ranks 21st in 3-pt. field goal made per game (2.857), 24th in 3-pt. field goal percentage (0.417), and 25th in total 3-pt. field goal made (80). The Eagles leading scorer is CCAC (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference) All-Conference Team member in sophomore Landon Skinner (Plano, TX) with 15.3 points per game. Skinner is also the team leader in steals with 1.2 per game. The Eagles leading rebounder is CCAC All-Conference Honorable Mention in senior Ben Rayhorn (Dakota, IL) with 5.9 rebounds per game. Leading the team in assists per game is another CCAC All-Conference Honorable Mention in junior Jim Kuban (Pekin, IL) with 4.9 assists per game. The Eagles leading shot blocker is freshman standout Anthony Ahlers (Magnolia, IL) with 1 block per game.

The Owls of Oregon Tech captured their second straight CCC (Cascade Collegiate Conference) Tournament title. The Owls have both the CCC Player of the Year in senior Justin Parnell and CCC Coach of the Year in Danny Miles. Recently Coach Miles became the third winningest coach in college basketball history with 903 wins in his 39th season as head coach of Oregon Tech. Miles has passed many coaching legends with his 903rd career win such as Bob Knight, Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp, and Mike Krzyzewski. The Owls rank in the top 25 in 17 different NAIA Men’s Division II team statistical categories. They rank first overall in assist/turnover ratio (1.509), second in total rebound defense (29.303), second in field goal percentage (0.501), fourth in scoring margin (16.606), fourth in total rebound margin (9.152), sixth in total scoring offense (2732), seventh in free throw percentage (0.740), seventh in total assists (528), ninth in 3-pt. field goal percentage (0.379), 10th in total 3-pt. field goal made (270), 12th in scoring defense per game (66.182), 15th in 3-pt. field goal made per game (8.182), 17th in assists per game (16), 18th in total rebound offense (1269), 19th in scoring offense per game (82.788), 20th in 3-pt. field goal percentage defense (0.310), and 20th in total blocks (104). Leading the way for the Owls is senior Justin Parnell who leads the team in points per game, rebounds per game, and assists per game. Parnell is averaging 17.52 points per game, 6.94 rebounds per game, and 4.88 assists per game, which ranks him 14th in NAIA Men’s Division II. The Owls three conference losses were to College of Idaho, Northwest Christian, and Eastern Oregon University, who are also in the NAIA tournament as the 14th seed.

The opening round game between the Eagles and Owls will feature two of the top scoring offenses in NAIA Division II and will be worth the price of admission, as both teams will play extremely hard. The Owls have the upper hand in terms of coaching experience as they are riding a nine game winning streak under head coach Danny Miles. The Eagles are also coming in on a seven game winning streak under head coach Tony Tompkins after starting the season 1-10.