GVSU's Tyler Emmorey and SVSU's Jenny Bellsky Named NCAA Division II Midwest Athlete and Coach of the Year

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BAY CITY, Mich. - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced Thursday regional awards. Grand Valley State University sophomore Tyler Emmorey (Cedar Springs, Mich./Cedar Springs) and Saginaw Valley State's Jenny Bellsky were named NCAA Division II Midwest Region Athlete and Coach of the year, respectively.

Men's NCAA Division II Midwest Athlete of the Year:
Tyler Emmorey- Grand Valley State
Sophomore
Cedar Springs, Mich.

Emmorey, a sophomore, led the Lakers to their eighth-straight Midwest Regional title and eighth-straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title by winning both races. Emmorey claimed the Midwest title with a time of 32:22 to finish seven seconds ahead of the field. At the GLIAC meet Emmorey led GVSU with a first-place finish in a time of 24:38 over eight-kilometers.

Men's NCAA Division II Midwest Coach of the Year:
Jenny Bellsky - Saginaw Valley State

Bellsky’s Saginaw Valley State team had an impressive meet at the Midwest Region championships. The Cardinals finished second overall as a team and earned its first trip to the national meet since 2006. The Cardinals scored 88 points at the region meet and placed three runners in the top ten, all of whom earned USTFCCCA Midwest All-Region honors. In conference action, the Cardinals finished second overall, the program’s highest finish at the conference meet since 1994.

-----GLIAC Men's Cross Country Weekly Notes-----

Ashland Eagles

The Eagles were 17th at last week’s NCAA regional championships at Wisconsin-Parkside. Freshman Colton Johnson (Mount Gilead, OH), paced the Eagles, finishing 35th in 34:30.2 (10K).

Ferris State Bulldogs

The nationally-ranked Ferris State University men’s cross country team wrapped up the 2009 campaign by running to a eighth-place team finish in the NCAA-II Midwest Regional Championships held on Saturday (Nov. 7) in Kenosha, Wis. The Bulldogs finished with 249 points in the field of 19 competing teams. In the men’s race, the Bulldogs were paced by sophomore Tyler Crossman’s 23rd-place finish (33:54.5).FSU freshman Alex Bladecki came in 46th (34:50.9), junior Alex Best was 49th (34:54.1)

Findlay Oilers

The University of Findlay men’s cross country team completed the 2009 NCAA Division II Midwest Region Meet on Saturday, November 7 in Kenosha, Wisconsin and placed tenth with 281 points. Jordan Kirwen was 36th with a time of 34:33, Shoayb Bascal (34:43), Kyle Tweed (35:03), Craig Wolfe (35:06), Tim Majoy (36:46), Tyler Swartz (37:40) and Joe Guerra (40:16) also competed for the Oilers.

Grand Valley State Lakers

The Grand Valley State men’s cross country team continues its dominance at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships last Saturday (Nov. 7) in Kenosha, Wis., as the Lakers finished first for the eighth straight year. GVSU placed five runners in the top-20 and had four runners finish in the top-seven, led by sophomore Tyler Emmorey (Cedar Springs, Mich.), who notched the individual title with a time of 32:22. GVSU totaled 38 points in the 10K, finishing well ahead of SVSU with 88 points. Sophomore Nathan Knisely (Coldwater, Mich.) finished fourth with a time of 32:32, while senior Ross Faasse (Grand Rapids, Mich.) placed sixth at 32:40, followed by sophomore Anthony Witt (Jasonville, Ind.) in seventh (32:42). Sophomore Jeff Nordquist (Kalamazoo, Mich.) crossed the finish line 20th with a time of 33:46. GVSU will run at the NCAA Division II Championships Nov. 21 in Evansville, Ind.

Hillsdale Chargers

The Charger men’s cross country team finished in 7th place at the regional meet. Senior Britton Deuel was the top finisher for the men’s team at the meet, with a time of 34:05.

Michigan Tech. Huskies

Michigan Tech junior Brian Stetter earned Midwest All-Region honors for the first time in his career with an 11th place finish at the Midwest Regional Meet in Kenosha, Wis., Saturday (Nov. 7). The St. Clair Shores, Mich., native covered the 10-kilometer course in 33:09 but was the first finisher not to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Overall the men’s team finished 11th of 19 teams with 293 points.

Northwood Timberwolves

The Northwood University men’s cross country team finished their 2009 season by competing at the NCAA Regional Championships Saturday afternoon (November 7) … the event was hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course … NU finished 18th overall with a team score of 405. Grand Valley State was the overall winner with 38 points, followed by Saginaw Valley State at 88 … leading the way for the Timberwolves was sophomore Braxton Collins (Britton, Mich./Britton Macon), who placed 43rd overall with a time of 34:45 … Sam Watson (Rochester, Mich.) ran 35:37 to finish 69th overall.

Saginaw Valley State Cardinals

The Saginaw Valley State University men’s cross country team placed second Saturday (Nov. 7) in the Division II Midwest Regional Championship meet. With this second place finish the Cardinals have earned a spot in the Division II National Championship meet held in Evansville, Indiana.Saginaw Valley finished with four runners in the top-20 with sophomore Nick Ekel (Elsie, Mich./Ovid-Elsie HS) leading the way crossing the line with a final time of 32:33, placing him fifth overall. Following Ekel were seniors Cortland Seaver (Freeland, Mich./Freeland HS) (32:51) finishing eighth overall, Steve Genther (Laingsburg, Mich./Laingsburg HS) (33:01) placing 10th overall, and Derek Stone (Metamora, Mich./Lapeer East HS) (33:43) coming in 18th overall. Marion Body (Sterling Heights, Mich./Cousino HS) would round out the Cards top-five timing in at 34:52 placing him 47th. The Cardinals will be back in action on November 21 when they travel to Evansville, Indiana to compete in the Division II National Championship meet.

Tiffin Dragons

Tiffin University competed at the NCAA Regional meet at Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday, Nov. 7. The men’s squad finished 14th of 19 teams. For the men, Mike Eblin was the top finisher in 42nd place with a time of 34:44 while Atlantis Troutman was 53rd in 35:05. Other finishers for TU included Dominique O’Neil (77th), Brock Lloyd (89th), and Kyle Anderson (105th).

Wayne State Warriors

The Wayne State men’s cross country team ended its season this past weekend with a fourth place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship. Sophomore Alex Townsend (Farmington Hills, Mich.,Farmington) led WSU with a 25th place finish in 34:06.3. Also joining Townsend in the top-30 was sophomore Travis Barczak (Williamston, Mich., Williamston) who had a time of 34:16.1 to finish in 29th place. Junior Pat Webster (Sterling Heights, Mich., Henry Ford II) finished just over a second behind Barczak in 30th place at 34:17.8.