Release courtesy of the NCAA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.––In celebration of the 40^th Anniversary of NCAA Division II, 48 former student-athletes are set to be honored by the NCAA throughout 2013. Developed through a partnership with the Division II Conference Commissioners Association, the 40^th Anniversary Tribute Team highlights one male and one female from each of the division’s 23 current conferences, plus two at-large nominees.

“This group of former student-athletes is meant to reflect the core values of Division II athletics,” said Josh Looney, associate director of Division II. “Commissioners have helped identify a diverse group of championship individuals from Division II’s 40-year history. Not only did these former student-athletes act as champions in athletics and in the classroom, they’ve gone on to live championship lives as well.

“This group is a true representation of Division II’s commitment to providing its student-athletes a ‘Life in the Balance’ that extends beyond athletics.”

Division II gained its own unique intercollegiate athletics identity when Divisions I, II and III were formalized during a special NCAA Convention held in 1973.  Prior to 1973, the NCAA was organized into two divisions––“University” and “College.”

The year-long 40^th Anniversary celebration will feature a number of initiatives branded by Division II’s tradition, history and community influence. A special 40^th Anniversary highlight video was unveiled to Division II membership during the 2013 NCAA Convention, officially kicking off the celebration.

Each member of the Division II 40^th Anniversary Tribute Team will receive a commemorative 40^th Anniversary gift and is slated to have his/her accomplishments profiled through Division II media channels.

Conferences were asked to submit a list of nominees representative of Division II’s ideals. The only requirement was that nominees exhausted their athletics eligibility within the past 40 years and attended a college or university active in Division II.

The NCAA Division II 40^th Anniversary Tribute Team:

California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)

Violet Palmer (Cal Poly Pomona Women’s Basketball, 1984-88)

Chris Wondolowski (Chico State Men’s Soccer, 2001-04)

Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC)

Michelle DePolo (Georgian Court University Women’s Basketball; Soccer; Softball, 1999-03)

Nicholas Harriott (Caldwell College Men’s Soccer, 2004-08)

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)

Barvenia Wooten-Cherry (Virginia Union University Women’s Basketball, 1980-83)

Timmy Newsome (Winston-Salem State University Football, 1976-80)

Conference Carolinas (CC)

Stephanie Ferri-Lewis (Pfeiffer University Women’s Cross Country; Soccer; Swimming, 1991-94)

Clint Bryant (Belmont Abbey College Men’s Basketball, 1973-77)

East Coast Conference (ECC)

Donna Orender (Queens College Women’s Basketball, 1975-78)

Brian Kilmeade (LIU Post Men’s Soccer, 1982-86)

Great American Conference (GAC)

Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (Harding University Women’s Cross Country; Track and Field, 2000-05)

Drew Beard (Southeastern Oklahoma State University Football, 2001-04)

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)

Gail Goestenkors (Saginaw Valley State University Women’s Basketball, 1981-85)

Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan University Men’s Basketball, 1973-77)

Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)

Sandra Magnus (Missouri S&T Women’s Soccer, 1983-86)

Larry Tucker (Lewis University Men’s Basketball, 1979-83)

Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC)

Mallory Holtman-Fletcher (Central Washington University Softball, 2005-08)

Grant Dykstra (Western Washington University Men’s Basketball, 2002-06)

Gulf South Conference (GSC)

Rachel Price-Bell and Ronda Price-Brinley (University of North Alabama Volleyball, 1996-00)

Radovan Chrz (University of West Florida Men’s Tennis, 2000-04)

Heartland Conference (HC)

Kelsey Baird (St. Edward’s University Women’s Soccer, 2005-09)

Collin Mayer (St. Edward’s University Men’s Golf, 2007-10)

Lone Star Conference (LSC)

Dr. Tammi Julch-Williams (Texas Women’s University Basketball, 1990-94)

Roberto Garza (Texas A&M University-Kingsville Football; Track & Field, 1997-2000)

Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA)

Teri Clemens (Truman State University Volleyball, 1974-78)

Jim Crane (University of Central Missouri Baseball, 1973-76)

Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10)

Johannah Leedham (Franklin Pierce University Women's Basketball, 2006-10)

J. Terence Carleton (Bentley College Men’s Soccer, 1973-76)

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC)

Lauren Brown (Winona State University Women’s Track and Field; Volleyball, 2007-10)

Bob Bowlsby (Minnesota State University Moorhead Wrestling, 1972-75)

Pacific West Conference (PacWest)

Samantha Murphy (Grand Canyon University Women’s Basketball, 2007-11)

Tsung-Hsien “Jet” Chang (BYU-Hawaii Men’s Basketball, 2010-12)

Peach Belt Conference (PBC)

Dr. Amy Amundson-Smith (Georgia College and State University Women’s Basketball, 1989-92)

Stilian Shishkov (Lander University Men’s Soccer, 1993-95)

Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)

Lori Pio-Jacques (East Stroudsburg University Women’s Basketball, 1993-96)

David Williams (Bloomsburg University Men’s Tennis, 1978-81)

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)

Elva Martinez-Dryer (Western State Colorado University Women’s Cross Country; Track and Field, 1991-95)

Danny Woodhead (Chadron State College Football, 2004-07)

South Atlantic Conference (SAC)

Kate Griewisch (Lenoir-Rhyne University Women’s Cross Country; Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field, 2009-12)

Patrick Bartlett (Wingate University Men’s Basketball; Soccer; Tennis, 1996-00)

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)

Selina B. Kohn (Albany State University Women’s Basketball, 1990-94)

Edwin Moses (Morehouse College, 1974-78)

Sunshine State Conference

Anna Hallbergson (Barry University Women’s Tennis, 1997-2000):

Ken Corigliano (Saint Leo University Men’s Cross Country, 2002-06)

West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC)

Mindy Young-Gagliardi (University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Women’s Basketball, 1988-92)

Sean Isgan (University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Wrestling, 1977-82)

At-Large (NCAA)

Sheila Baxter (Virginia State University Women’s Basketball, 1973-77)

Shane Carwin (Western State Colorado University Football and Wrestling, 1995-99)