2017 Spring Awards Banquet Program (PDF)
2016-17 Great Midwest Presidents' Cup Page
BLUE ASH, Ohio – For the fourth time in five years, the crystal hardware that is the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Presidents’ Cup, will be proudly displayed at Cedarville University following its 2016-17 achievements.
Representatives from the institution were present to receive the trophy on Monday night at the Cooper Creek Banquet Center to help celebrate the league’s accomplishments.
The Presidents’ Cup is annually awarded to the college that has the highest percentage score for sports sponsored within the conference.
Throughout the 2016-17 academic year, Alderson Broaddus University, Cedarville, Davis & Elkins College, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Malone University, Ohio Valley University, Trevecca Nazarene University and Ursuline College, have competed through conference competition to earn points through their performances at the league championships for the Presidents’ Cup standings.
The race is even more intriguing in the future with 13 schools (Findlay, Hillsdale, Lake Erie, Ohio Dominican, Walsh) in the mix for the 2017-18 academic year and 14 in the fold for 2018-19 (Tiffin).
The Presidents’ Cup is annually awarded to the college that has the highest percentage score for sports sponsored within the conference. Cedarville will officially take home the prestigious honor for the fourth straight year this evening.
The Yellow Jackets secured a total of six G-MAC Championships, including men’s and women’s cross country, volleyball, women’s indoor track and field and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field titles.
Junior Carsyn Koch was crowned the NCAA indoor champion in the 800-meter dash while both men’s and women’s distance medley relay units streaked to NCAA DII All-American honors. Junior Daniel Michalski was also an All-American in the mile run. The volleyball program experienced an opening-round regional win in the national tournament as well.
First-year league member Malone was runner-up in its first chance at the Presidents’ Cup, winning indoor men’s track and field and finishing runner-up in a handful of sport championships.
Other individual honors awarded to Cedarville in 2016-17 included numerous coach of the year awards to Jeff Bolender (women’s cross country, track and field), Paul Orchard (men’s cross country), Wes Rowe (softball) and Doug Walters (volleyball). Great Midwest Player of the Year plaques were presented to Olivia Esbenshade (cross country/indoor track and field), Gabby Olson (volleyball), Hanna Harris (women’s soccer), Jordan Reese (golf), Koch (outdoor track and field), Brianne O’Dell (softball) and Danielle Wolgamot (softball). G-MAC Freshman of the Year honors went to Janelle English (tennis).
With automatic qualifying bids still at stake in current G-MAC Championship sport offerings and the addition of five schools to the league, competition will continue to be fierce for the 2017-18 Presidents’ Cup.