SCOTS SCOOP 2008-2009

WE’RE BAAAAAACK!

After a summer break, Scots Scoop returns with an update on some of the happenings over the past three months.

Next week’s Scoop will preview the fall sports season.

STADIUM UPDATE

When we last left you, the Fighting Scots’ football stadium was in a state of demolition.

April Zorn Memorial Stadium has undergone quite a transformation in the last three months as Phase One of the two-phase project nears completion. Gone is the old multi level press box with the fire escape-type stairs where coaches had to squeeze through a narrow opening in the ceiling to gain access to the rooftop where they could spot for their team. Gone are the home side’s aluminum bleachers. Gone are the movable visitor bleachers.

All that has been replaced with a single-level press box with coaches “suites” at each end, three separate broadcast booths – including a room dedicated for the college’s webcasts – a spacious working area for game management personnel, filmers and print media and a “special events” room. The home bleachers now sport new seating arrangements, as well as a special section with stadium seating and a tiered picnic style area at each end. The visitor’s side gets a new seating area which doubles as a large storage area underneath for the Fighting Scots football, track and softball teams’ equipment.

Helped by good weather this summer, workers have made rapid progress on the new stadium which has a completion date of Sept. 5. The Scots will host Lawrence University in the inaugural game at the renovated facility on Sept. 13.

All this was made possible by a gift from Walter S. Huff Jr. ’56 who made the lead gift in memory of his late wife, April Zorn Huff ’59. “April was very fond of Monmouth College football,” said Huff. “April’s family will be thrilled to have her alma mater’s football stadium named in her memory.”

The actual playing field, which will remain Bobby Woll Memorial Field, will see the installation of synthetic turf and field lights when Phase Two of the project is completed next summer.

An official dedication ceremony for the entire facility will be held at the start of the 2009 football season.

YEAST’S COMPETITION NOT OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER

When Ashley Yeast (Sciota, Ill./West Prairie) walked off the court after her last basketball game as a member of the Monmouth College women’s basketball team, little did she know she would still be competing six months later.

Yeast, who played basketball and volleyball for the Fighting Scots, won’t be battling for position or approaching the net for a kill in her current competition. The graduated accounting and business major now finds herself competing for the NCAA’s prestigious Woman of the Year (WOTY) award, given annually to a female athlete who has distinguished herself, not only in the athletic arena, but also in the classroom and community.

An outside hitter on the volleyball court and a center in basketball, Yeast is following in the footsteps of her basketball coach Melissa (Jones) Bittner ‘03, who was the Illinois state winner and a top 10 finalist for the national award in 2003.

Yeast’s path is a bit different from her coach’s. When Bittner competed, the NCAA selected winners by state, but since the 2005-06 season, nominees have been selected by each conference, with that pool being narrowed to the top 10 in each of the NCAA’s three divisions. The top 30 will be honored at a banquet on Oct. 19 in Indianapolis. The NCCA will announce the field of 30 finalists later this month.

“The group (of nominees) was very strong and competitive,” said Midwest Conference commissioner Chris Graham when he announced Yeast as the conference’s representative in the national competition. “We had a record number of nominations this year and the final rankings by the Awards and Recognition Committee were extremely close.”

A dean’s list student throughout her collegiate career, Yeast was named ESPN the Magazine academic all-district three times and has six academic all-conference honors. Additionally, she was named all-conference in basketball three times. She led the nation in Division III in rebounding during her junior year and holds every women’s rebounding record at Monmouth. As a volunteer, Yeast has served with 18 different agencies during her four years at Monmouth.

WHAT I DID THIS SUMMER

“Write a paper on what you did over summer break” is a staple assignment for students returning to classes each fall.

For cross country’s Matt Perharda (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) that assignment should be a breeze given he is already a published author. The junior’s first book, “Running with a Vengeance,” is a fictional work following the life of a high school athlete and includes many of Peharda’s inspirational messages he shared with the runners at his former high school.

“A friend of mine’s mother suggested I write an inspirational book,” said Peharda. “I thought ‘Yeah, right,’ but then I actually did it last winter.”

It took inspiration from adversity for Peharda to put pen to paper – or more accurately – fingers to keyboard.

“I was injured during the track season and had time,” reported Peharda. “I was having some trouble studying for winter finals and decided to begin writing (the book).”

“A lot of the experiences (in the book) are things I wish I would've known when I was in high school,” he told WEEK-TV in Peoria.

Peharda’s first foray into professional writing has already sold out in one Peoria location – a full two weeks before the book is officially due to be in bookstores nationwide. “Running with a Vengeance” is available on-line at Amazon.com as well as other on-line book suppliers.

While his early success could tempt others to stray from their original goals, Peharda is staying the course and is back on campus training for the cross country season. His first royalty check is due in early September, but he has no plans to pursue writing full time.

“I’m continuing my education toward becoming a math teacher and cross country coach,” said Peharda. “I’m really not even thinking about the revenues from the book. Writing the book was more like a hobby.”

A hobby that produces income that should help with tuition. Another work is already in the plans for Peharda if he has trouble studying for finals again. Book No. 1 ended in high school and Book No. 2 will cover the college years.

Judging by the initial reaction, we hope Peharda’s cross country success rivals his literary success.

A LINK(S) TO THE FUTURE

If the summer is any indication, sophomore golfer Rodney Clayton (Plano, Ill./Plano) is ready to help the Scots men’s golf team to their fourth conference title this decade.

Clayton won two junior tournaments in the span of three weeks in late July when he captured first place at the Pontiac (Ill.) Junior Open and followed that with the collegiate division title at the McDonald’s FGA event held at Gibson Woods Golf Course in Monmouth.

Playing on his college home course, Clayton found himself trailing by two strokes after a first round 2-over 73. The Fighting Scot caught fire on Day 2, shooting a sizzling 5-under 66 for a 139, 36-hole total.

“Rodney’s 66 on the second day was pretty impressive,” said coach Dave Ragone. “He beat some Division I players and is really getting his game together.”

Clayton wasn’t the only Scot to tune up for the college season at the Monmouth event. Junior Ryan Tapscott (Port Byron, Ill./Riverdale) finished sixth with a 149. Seniors Greg Jones (Roseville, Ill./Roseville) and Joe Trotter (Macomb, Ill./Macomb) shot 157 and 173, respectively. Junior Jon Matthews (Casey, Ill./Casey-Westfield) posted a 172.

Incoming freshmen Sean McNamara (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth-Roseville) carded a 151 and Ben Olson (Oneida, Ill./ROWVA) toured the course with a 160.

“Our guys had a very productive summer,” said Ragone of his returners and recruits. “They’ve all played a lot of rounds and it’s going to be quite a race for our ‘A’ team. We like to say ‘Competition breeds excellence,’ and it looks like this summer there was a lot of competition.”

The Scots will play a limited fall season of four meets ending with the Red Poling Classic at Dearborn, Mich. on Oct. 7during the non-traditional season.

SUCCESS AT AN EARLY AGE

A summer research project has confirmed what fans of the volleyball team already knew – head coach Kari Shimmin is something special.

While compiling information on the volleyball coach at the University of South Carolina Upstate, Joe Guistina, USC Upstate’s assistant sports information director, discovered there were not many volleyball coaches under the age of 40 in the NCAA with 200 or more career wins. Guistina’s unofficial survey asked SIDs in the three NCAA divisions for the ages and win totals of each institution’s volleyball coach. Not everyone responded to the survey, but among the ones who did – and included their coach’s age – Shimmin was at the top of the list as the youngest with 200 or more victories. Less than 40 coaches under the age of 40 nationwide had reached the 200-win plateau.

The survey doesn’t mean Shimmin has the most wins or that she was the quickest to 200. It just means that – at age 32 – she’s the youngest with at least that many wins. In 10 years at the helm of the Scots, Shimmin has averaged more than 20 wins per season and compiled a .608 winning percentage with a 208-134 record.

So, what’s the secret to the veteran coach’s success?

“One part of the formula is the players,” said Shimmin. “The women are very dedicated and work hard to excel in volleyball as well as in the classroom. I'm happy to have coached so many gifted and wonderful women. I appreciate the supportive and dedicated assistant coaches our program has had over the years.”

Shimmin was also quick to attribute much of her success to the campus community.

“Monmouth is a wonderful place to work,” she said. “We have great facilities, and the faculty and staff are very supportive of our student-athletes. I'm thankful Monmouth College and (then-athletic director) Terry Glasgow gave me the opportunity to become a head coach at a young age.”

Judging by the success Shimmin has had, the Fighting Scots are probably thankful, too.

HE WILL BE MISSED

The Fighting Scots football community will be mourning the loss of a running back from coach Steve Bell’s inaugural season.

Brian Hetrick ’01 died earlier this week from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in nearby Henderson County.

Hetrick was injured when the motorcycle he was riding swerved to avoid a raccoon in the road. He suffered massive head injuries and was taken to Great River Medical Center in Burlington, Iowa, and later airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.

A four-year member of the Scots football team, Hetrick wore the No. 35 jersey and took that number into auto racing where was having a successful career as a sprint car driver at 34 Raceway in Burlington. The former running back carried his football number onto the track by putting the No. 35 on his car. With one race left in the season, track officials at the raceway declared him the season points champion, explaining that the Stronghurst, Ill., native was so far ahead of his nearest competitor driving the final race was merely a formality – and the other drivers agreed.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Stronghurst Christian Church in Stronghurst. Banks and Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst is handling the arrangements. Memorials have been established for the Make A Wish Foundation and the West Central High School Sports Programs. Condolences may be left at http://www.banksandbeals.com .

THE WEEK AHEAD

First action begins Fri., Aug. 29

Fri., Aug. 29

Women’s Soccer – hosts Elmhurst, 5:00 pm

Cross Country – at Illinois Wesleyan Open, 5:30 pm



Sat., Aug. 30

Volleyball – hosts Monmouth College Invitational, 9:00 am

Women’s Tennis – hosts Augustana and Quincy, 9:00 am

Men’s Soccer – at Elmhurst, 2:00 pm

Women’s Golf – at Illinois College Invitational, TBA

SCOTSIVATIONAL

“Whenever you start - give it your best. The opportunities are there to be anything you want to be. But wanting to be someone isn't enough; dreaming about it isn't enough; thinking about it isn't enough. You've got to study for it, work for it, fight for it with all your heart and soul, because nobody is going to hand it to you.” – Gen. Colin Powell