Every week, The Forum keeps readers up to date on the latest athletic updates. This week, Westminster College competed in men’s and women’s basketball, began the indoor track and field season and named a soccer athlete to the CoSIDA Division II Academic All-America First Team.
Sports coverage by The Forum is created in part through a partnership with the Westminster College Athletics Program.
Soccer Player Named Academic-All-America
Westminster men’s soccer player Preston McIllece was named to the CoSIDA Division II Academic All-America First Team. This award is voted on by the nation’s sports information directors and is awarded to the top 33 student athletes in the country.
McIllece is the first Westminster student to receive this award.
McIllece is a computer science major with a 4.0 GPA and ranks fourth all-time in minutes played for the Griffin soccer program. To be nominated for this award, students must maintain a 3.30 GPA and be considered a significant contributor to the team.
Men’s Basketball
Men’s basketball hit the road this weekend for two games at Colorado State Pueblo on Friday and at New Mexico Highlands University on Saturday.
The team lost to CSU Pueblo with a final score of 84-75. The two leading scorers for the Griffins were Joonas Tahvanainen with 18 points and Brandon Warr with 15 points.
The team suffered another loss to NMHU with a final score of 77-78. The two leading scorers for the Griffins were Connor Jake with 24 points and Brandon Warr with 20 points.
The team’s overall season record is now 7-4 and 2-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball team is also on the road this weekend, playing Colorado State Pueblo on Friday and New Mexico Highlands University on Saturday.
The team won against CSU Pueblo with a final score of 59-41, improving their overall season record to four wins and zero losses. The two leading scorers for the Griffins were Hunter Krebs with 21 points and Abby Magnum with nine points.
The team secured their second win against NMHU with a final score of 74-66 in overtime. The two leading scorers for the Griffins were Sarah McGinley with 28 points and Hunter Krebs with 21 points.
This improves their overall record to 10-1 and a RMAC record of 5-0.
Men’s Indoor Track and Field
The men’s indoor season of track and field began with its opening meet at the Weber State Winter Open Dec. 6.
Overall, the men’s team set nine records in the program’s Top 10 and set 16 personal records.
Westminster juniors Tony Nickerson and DJ Matthews respectively recorded the fastest and second fastest mile times in the program’s history, both breaking the previously held record set in 2011.
Six field event Top 10 records were set for the weight throw, long jump and triple jump.
The team will compete again at the BYU Invitational Jan. 9-11.
Women’s Indoor Track and Field
The women’s indoor season of track and field began with its opening meet at the Weber State Winter Open Dec. 6.
Overall, the women’s team set 10 records in the program’s Top 10 and set 18 personal records.
Westminster sophomore Lauren Cobabe set a program record in the 55 hurdles, while setting four new personal records and five Top 10 records.
Madison Hooper, Katie Scott, Emily Worline and Courtney McAlindon recorded the third fastest 4×400 relay time.
The team will compete again at the BYU Invitational Jan. 9-11.
Men’s Soccer Players Named All-Region, All-America Teams
Two other men’s soccer players were given recognition for their work this season. Westminster junior Bridger Hansen was named to the United Soccer Coaches DII All-America Third Team and senior Danny Darelli was named to the All-South Central Region First Team.
Hansen is the first soccer player at Westminster to receive All-America honors since the school joined the Division-II region program.
Darelli placed third in the RMAC for the most goals scored and second in game winners. This helped him earn the All-RMAC First Team honors for a second year in a row.
