Monthly Archive for December, 2008

Closing up shop

Published on December 23, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

Am in the process of getting ready to leave the office for a few days and clearing my desk. It’s hard for me to believe Christmas is in two days. With the hustle of the first semester Thanksgiving comes and goes without much notice and it’s finally in the last few days that I can get a sense of some peace and quiet.

I love what I do, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes in the planning for what’s coming up and the thoughts of what have happened I struggle with the task of living in the here and now. Don’t know if that makes sense , but with deadlines for games coming up and tasks to perform with the just finished events I sometimes miss out on what is happening in the moment. Anyhow, I’m thankful for a few days where nothing is pressing and I can actually say there is nothing on the calendar that requires my attention.

Which brings us to Christmas. Yup, just two days away. I’m taking the easy way out on this blog. Going to re-print something I wrote about a year ago. The title was A Friend Rests. By far the most commented on writing I’ve done.

As I take the time to reflect on the past year I, like many of you, can think of the problems that have fallen on friends or family. Trouble we have not asked for. Agony we didn’t go looking for. Heartache we’d just as soon live without, but ugliness we have to deal with in this business of living. You know what, it’s exactly at these times that we have to remember the hope we live with, not just the trouble. This is my Christmas wish, that we continue to live with the hope and joy that God’s ultimate gift gives us. Have a blessed Christmas.

A Friend Rests

I’ve been kicking around writing this for the better part of a week and for fear of not doing the subject justice, had elected not to, but, having returned from the funeral home for the visitation of a fellow church member find myself inclined to write.

His name was Al Jelgerhuis, he was 86 years old when his body finally said enough late last week. While it sounds strange to say someone nearly fifty years my senior was a friend, I think I can count myself as one of many who crossed paths with him and considered him a friend.

I first met him when his oldest son, Elmer, married my sister some 25 years ago. Through the twists and turns of life, myself, my wife and my children ended up in the same church as he for the past four years or so.

Quite a life. Those were my first thoughts when I heard he had passed on after mounting health difficulties in the past year.

He enrolled in the army for service in World War II and ended up flying B-29’s over India the same time as his twin brother Elmer. Elmer was shot down on a mission and declared dead. After being given the option to serve stateside Al elected to return to India and continued air missions. In May of 1945 his plane was shot down and he spent 90 days in the Tokyo prison. He entered as a fit army pilot, he left 100 pounds lighter and was eventually discharged with honors in 1946. He earned a Purple Heart.

From there he was married to his wife of 53 years, Della, and they eventually made their home in Orange City where he worked in the Postal Service and was an active member in the church, schools and community.

I will always remember the smile and the laugh he was ready with. Invariably, when his health failed, he would spend a day or two in the hospital but always found his way to church on Sunday where he was ready with a kind word and a compliment; and believe me, when someone like himtakes the time to give a compliment, it is truly humbling.

So that brings us to today. The tears in mourning but also the joy in knowing he is free from the pain that ravaged his body and the illnesses that just wouldn’t leave.

I’ve heard Jim Valvano’s (former North Carolina State basketball coach) speech several times when his body was racked with cancer and he was near death and he said you need to laugh, love and cry every day……that’s a full day he quipped. I look at Al’s life and I think many of his days were filled with those emotions.

Why was he able to do that? Well, I’m sure part of it was because he stared in to hell in that Tokyo prison and lived every day in the knowledge that things could be a lot worse–but I think there’s more to it, much moreand at Christmas I think we can tie it all together.

Al lived every day in the knowledge that his sins were cleared away, thrown as far as the East is from the West, because Christ was sent to live as a man among us and eventually die a cruel death for us and it all started with his birth which we celebrate in a few days.

Having stood by the open graves of loved ones I’m reminded always of Heidleberg question and answer number 1. Learned it in the basement of the Ireton Christian Reformed Church. Honestly, it didn’t mean so much to me back then, but days and weeks like today it states things very clearly:

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

That I am not my own, but belong-body and soul, in life and in death to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures my of eternal life and makes me whole-heartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Hmmmmmm

Published on December 16, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

The times they are a changin’, well, at least they might be. No one said the GPAC’s current 13 members would remain together and live happily ever after, but I must say I was a bit surprised when the news hit mid-last week that Dana was exploring other options. Now, I won’t use this space for my opinion, and believe me, I have one. Instead I’ll post what Dana had on their website regarding their exploration. By the way, the history of the GPAC is–formed in 2000 with current members except Morningside and Briar Cliff. Briar Cliff joined in 2002 and Morningside joined in 2003. Just trying to keep you aware of the winds of change blowing right now……..

FAQ’s Regarding Dana’s Exploration of a New Athletic Conference


Read statements from President Janet Philipp, Athetic Director Bill Danenhauer, and a Current Dana Student Athlete at the end of this FAQ.

Why did the College decide to explore application to the Midwest Collegiate Conference?

  1. Dana’s student focus is on academics as we endeavor to educate student athletes. This is consistent with the philosophy of the MCC as indicated in the purpose statement of the MCC: “…to enrich and balance the athletic and educational experiences of student-athletes…, to enhance athletic and academic integrity among its members, and to provide leadership in support of its basic values.”
  2. In the MCC Dana can compete with colleges of similar facilities, staffing and scholarships which creates an opportunity for greater fairness with our competitors.
  3. In the MCC conference Dana will be more competitive and therefore provide students the opportunity to play on a winning team.

When will the change take place?

  1. If Dana is accepted into the MCC, competition within that conference will begin in the Fall of 2010.
  2. During the 2009-2010 academic year Dana will continue to compete in the GPAC.

Who was involved in the decision to explore a change in conferences?

The Dana administration, the athletic director, select coaches and the Board of Regents were involved in the process.

What was the process for the decision to explore application to a different conference?

A study was conducted of strong regional conferences in the NAIA which are located within a reasonable proximity to Dana. Factors considered included institution size, distance and projected costs, number of schools in the conference and mix of sports offered, other Lutheran institutions within the conference, financial aid policies and procedures, conference affiliation with our current recruiting area, and ability to compete with other conference institutions athletically.

Why was the Midwest Collegiate Conference chosen?

  1. Following a review of the criteria listed in #4 above, the MCC stood out as having the best overall opportunities in the areas identified.
  2. Several significant issues such as the ability to compete, the opportunities to continue to recruit in the same areas and to compete with colleges similar to Dana, were strengths of the MCC.

Will the team roster sizes remain the same?

Yes – no changes are planned in roster sizes

Will the College add any additional sports?

A year ago Dana decided to add women’s lacrosse, men’s golf, and competitive dance and cheer beginning in Fall 2009 and to add both men’s and women’s bowling in the fall of 2010. That will not change. There may be opportunities in the future to add more sports but there is not currently any discussion of that.

Will the College drop any sports?

No sports will be dropped.

Will financial aid policies, procedures or amounts change?

The financial aid policies and procedures of the MCC are consistent with Dana’s policies.

Will the travel distances be greater?

A few colleges will be further away. However, there will be more opportunities for non-conference play with colleges in Nebraska which are shorter distances. Currently we play many of the MCC schools in non-conference games which are part of the travel budgets already.

Will students be out of class for longer periods?

It depends on the scheduling. For most sports there will be little change.

Will targeted recruitment areas change?

No, we will maintain our primary recruitment area which is a 150 mile radius from the campus. Currently 20% of Dana’s students are from Iowa; however our presence in the MCC will help to strengthen our ability to promote Dana to new markets in Iowa.

Are there any new requirements in the MCC? For students, coaches, Dana?

No changes are required, the MCC is an NAIA Conference.

Will the College be more competitive in the MCC? Evidenced by?

Yes, Dana will be more competitive. An analysis of non-conference games with the MCC colleges shows that Dana competes very well with these colleges.

How does Dana’s enrollment compare to other institutions in the MCC?

  1. There are more colleges with undergraduate enrollments similar to Dana’s in the MCC than in the GPAC.
  2. Dana will continue to be one of the smaller schools in the conference but the philosophy of the MCC is similar to Dana’s regardless of the size of institution.

How does Dana’s facilities compare to other institutions in the MCC?

Athletic facilities are more comparable with the MCC colleges than in the GPAC

How does Dana’s staffing compare to other institutions in the MCC?

Much like Dana, coaches in the MCC have additional responsibilities alongside of coaching. Most have additional duties in the classroom or also serve as Athletic Director, Sports Information Director, etc.

What is the connection between the MCC and NAIA?

  1. MCC began as an NAIA conference in 1988. The colleges and universities in the MCC include:

    Waldorf College, Forest City, IA
    Ashford University, Clinton, IA
    Iowa Wesleyan University, Mount Pleasant, IA
    Clarke College, Dubuque, IA
    Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, IA
    William Penn University, Oskaloosa, IA
    Grand View College, Des Moines, IA
    Viterbo University, La Crosse, WI
    St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA

  2. In 2005, the MCC became one of the first NAIA Conferences to hire a full-time Commissioner when Rick Sanders assumed the role in August.
  3. The MCC has a strong commitment to the scholar athlete as evidenced in its constitution and purpose statement (see question #1).

Was there any dialogue with other GPAC colleges and universities?

There was no dialogue between Dana and other GPAC colleges and universities as dictated by the NAIA and GPAC rules when an institution wishes to explore a conference change.

How long has the College been in the GPAC?

The GPAC was formed in 2000; Dana was a charter member given its participation in the NIAC (Nebraska Iowa Athletic Conference)

Will Midland Lutheran College be changing athletic conferences?

We are not aware of any planned changes by Midland Lutheran College. Any change by Midland would be independent from Dana’s exploration of the MCC.

Will Dana still compete with traditional rivals?

Yes, traditional rivals such as Midland Lutheran College will continue to be on our schedule as non-conference games.

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Statements from the College

President Janet Philipp

“Dana College is exploring application to the Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) of the NAIA. This is an opportunity for Dana to join with colleges and universities that better reflect our philosophy of the student athlete. Furthermore, in the MCC conference Dana will be more competitive and therefore provide students the opportunity to play on a winning team. “We take seriously our commitment to support both the academic and athletic experiences of student athletes and to engage teacher coaches whose first priority is the academic success of their students” said Dana’s President Janet Philipp. “The MCC institutions place importance on the same values as this institution.”

Athletic Director Bill Danenhauer

“I believe the Midwest Collegiate Conference is a perfect fit for Dana College. The conference’s member institutions are dedicated to the development of student-athletes, with an intentional emphasis on student success in the classroom. We are very excited about joining that effort with our student-athletes and coaches. Outside the classroom, Dana College also shares many characteristics with the existing members including enrollment, staffing, and facilities. Overall we are very comparable to all of the member institutions in the Midwest Collegiate Conference. We look forward to joining this competitive and level playing field.”

Student Athlete George P. Drinnin

I look forward to the challenge of competing against student-athletes similar to those here at Dana College. It is going to be exciting to face different challenges in a new conference with new opponents. The MCC will be a great fit for Dana because of our shared emphasis on the success of the student-athlete and being thankful for the opportunity to play collegiate athletics. The Dana College football team takes pride in their hard work, competitive spirit, and love of the game. In the MCC the conference will be better suited for us to play and compete to win a conference championship and eventually make a run at a playoff berth.

What do you do

Published on December 16, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

when there are no games to prepare for. You sign recruits and write releases. You catch up with some record keeping. You watch the snow and feel the cold and are glad you don’t work full-time outside anymore like you did when you were a college student. I digress…………

News coming shortly about a recruit that comes with some honors……more in the hopper. Stay tuned to the www.dordt.edu/athletics website

Upset!

Published on December 15, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

The Dordt College Defender women’s basketball team registered an upset on Saturday. Beat the #13 Doane Tigers at the DeWitt Gym. I wasn’t terribly surprised the game was competitive because these two have played some pretty good games over the past five seasons, including a Dordt College win two years ago. Anyhow, career high in points for Kelsie De Nooy. Even threw in a three-pointer to get to her career high 25 points. Doane didn’t help themselves at the free throw line where they were just 9-16 for 56 percent while Dordt made 16-22 attempts for 73 percent. That and a +13 rebound difference will win you some games. At the end of the day, a much needed win for the Defender women as they head into Christmas Break wtih a 4-8 record. I think we’ll see a few more big wins before the season is out.

Men’s game? Doane was content to run the shot clock down to slow the temp. Dordt never got a big enough lead to force the Tigers out of their game plan. The result? A 57-46 win by Dordt where they scored their final 12 points from the free throw line. Doane didn’t break the 30 point barrier until their was 6:50 left in the game. 20 points and seven rebounds for Logan Kingma. Mark Rowenhorst was limited with a back that’s been acting up. Two weeks off will do him some good.

A few career notes. Placings for career points in women’s basketball start at 600 points, 300 rebounds, 294 assists and 165 steals. Men’s plateaus are 1000 points, 450 rebounds, 183 assists and 86 steals.

Several players are closing in on those numbers. McKinzie Schmidt has 565 career points to go along with her 524 rebounds. Amber Soodsma is at 503 points and 229 rebounds. Kate Du Mez has 235 career assists and 150 steals. Kelsie De Nooy has 523 points and 302 rebounds and Bre Schneiderman has 204 rebounds and 97 blocked shots (the career record is 210). Michael Eekhoff has 174 career assists and 73 career steals while Logan Kingma has 906 points and 377 career rebounds.

A gauntlet

Published on December 9, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

That’s what the Defender women’s basketball team has to run through this season. Hokey Pete! The rankings for this week’s basketball just came out for the NAIA Division II women’s basketball teams. From the GPAC-#1 Morningside, #2 Hastings, #10 Concordia, #14 Doane, #24 Northwestern, #28 Mount Marty. Now, if that’s not enough Dordt also has #5 Jamestown, #13 Black Hills State and #19 Grand View on its schedule. All totaled Dordt will face those teams in 12 games before the season is over.

On the men’s side Dordt jumped to #14 while Concordia rose to #17. Morningside and Dakota WEsleyan dropped to #18 and #23 respectively and Briar Cliff is receiving votes.

What’s it all mean. Not a thing. But it sure is fun to look at and try to break down. Now, talk to me in February. Then my friend, the rankings do mean something……….

So Long

Published on December 6, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

Sioux City. Spent three days covering the NAIA National Volleyball Tournament. The facility was fantastic for volleyball, by far the best of the three I’ve been at (Palm Beach and San Diego were the others. Plenty of room for the courts with players having ample space to chase down balls and to employ their jump serving technique. Comfortable seating for the fans–and they weren’t that far removed from the court.

Good media support. This was the first volleyball tournament that I’ve been to where media questions could be answered in a relatively quick manner. Stats were, for the most part, accurate….same as regular season. The volunteer workers were cheerful and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Several struck up conversations with me about Dordt College and seemed interested in learning a little more about the schools at the tournament.

The Sioux City Journal has latched on to this tournament and covered it extensively. This is more than I can say happened when we were in the larger markets. Steve Allspach and Terry Hersom worked the tournament just like they do for the women’s basketball–lots of print which helps with promotion.
The final four is an all-California group, I’ll be interested to see what the crowd numbers are like today, but I doubt it will be much smaller than what I saw in Florida and California by the final day.

Anyhow, what I’m trying to say is this….to all involved from the top down–great job! Here’s hoping the NAIA extends the contract for the tournament at the Tyson Event Center beyond next year.

Trying To Figure It Out

Published on December 4, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

I’m in my seat for the final day of the NAIA National Volleyball Tournament, for Dordt College at least. Dordt’s hopes for advancing past pool play ended yesterday when Azusa Pacific beat Mobile 3-0. That was the first domino Dordt needed to fall–that is, Mobile needed to upset Azusa Pacific to extend the Dordt hopes to a potential tie-breaker. As it is, that domino didn’t tip and Dordt plays Mobile this morning in a match up of two teams trying to finish their National Tournament experience with a win. In Dordt’s previous seven trips to the National Tournament they’ve always won at least one match. We’ll see if they can extend that streak today.

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Outstanding win by the Defender men’s basketball team last night over a team from Dakota Wesleyan that figures to be in the hunt for the GPAC title at the end of the year. Dordt did a pretty good job in the second half and limited the Tigers. Brandon Oldenkamp hit some big three-pointers and headed up the offense with 19 points. Now the Defenders face Dana on Saturday. The Vikings are a team that stung Dordt last year with a loss right before the Christmas break. Three Dordt players, Oldy, Mark Rowenhorst and Michael Eekhoff all hit for double figures with Logan Kingma limited because of a balky back.

Defender women got down by 14 early and couldn’t come back on Wednesday. Played without Amber Soodsma who missed the game with a bum ankle. We’ll see if she’s able to go on Saturday. On the upside Bre Schneiderman was back in uniform after missing several games with the after effects of a concussion and had a team high six blocks.

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Matches with championship bracket ramifications today at the volleyball tournament?

11:00-Doane versus Vanguard. Both teams are 1-1 in pool play and win gets them into the champioinship bracket.

1:15-Georgetown v. California Baptist. Both teams are 2-0. Winner possibly gets a bye in the first round of the championship bracket. Ditto for the Columbia Azusa Pacific match. Bellevue v. Lindenwood. Both teams are 1-1 and a win gets them into the championship bracket.

3:45-Point Loma v. Black Hills State. Both teams are 1-1. Winner likely gets in championship bracket (assuming Fresno Pacific beats Morningside). Lewis Clark State v. Lubbock Christian. Both teams 1-1. Winner gets in if Biola beats Madonna.

6:00–Concordia v. Northwestern. Both teams are 2-0. Winner is pool champ and has a shot at a first round bye (not likely if it’s Northwestern).

Tiebreaker situations where teams play a single set to 25? Not many possibilities on the horizon…….but it is a fickle sport.

Surprises at the tournament? Madonna (Michigan) going 0-2 up to this point along with the host school Morningside………go figure.

Well, time to earn my lunch money………………………………………

Good Morning

Published on December 3, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

From the NAIA National Volleyball tournament. The Dordt College Defenders lost a 3-0 decision to Azusa Pacific onTuesday afternoon. Played hard, scrapped and had a chance to steal set one but a couple unforced errors resulted in APU pulling out the win. APU then held Dordt off in set two and rolled in set three. Too many big guns for APU at the net. Dordt didn’t have a consistent answer for the 6-2 outside hitter that APU went to whenever they could. Play Columbia today. This will be a tester as well. In reality the Defenders need to win today to have a shot at advancing out of pool play. Gametime in about ten minutes.

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Some NAIA notes. The GPAC went 1-3 yesterday. Doane pushed Bellevue and lost 3-2 in one of the better matches of the day. Morningside struggled with Point Loma Nazarene and lost 3-1. Northwestern got pushed but came out with a 3-0 win over Olivet Nazarene.

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Men’s soccer-Hastings is in the NAtional quarterfinals after a 1-0 win last night. By the way, Park University (Dordt’s first round national foe in the women’s soccer tournament) fell 4-0 in the second round of the tournament in Florida on Monday.

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Time to get to work. Will post after our match.

National Tournament Time

Published on December 1, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

When does a national tournament not feel like a national tournament? When it happens 50 miles from campus, that’s when.

The Dordt volleyball team plays three matches of the pool variety this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Realistically they must win two out of three to advance into the championship bracket on Friday. Other pool members are Azusa Pacific, Columbia and Mobile. I’ve done a preview of the three teams on the dordt.edu/athletics website so I won’t bore you with the details here.

There is a banquet tonight with matches starting Tuesday at 11:00. First time for Sioux City hosting the event. Three matches will be played side by side in the Tyson Events Center. I look forward to seeing the layout for the matches. My previous national tournament experience has been at warm climates so this is a little different. The NAIA volleyball tournament has struggled to find a “permanent” home ever since the days in Kankakee, Illinois. The tournament has called West Palm Beach, Florida; San Diego, California and Columbia, Missouri home in the last ten years. While this is the first year for the tournament in Sioux City the town has extensive NAIA experience in hosting the women’s basketball tournament,something they’ll continue through 2012 and they’ve also hosted the wrestling tournament. Corey Westra, the GPAC commissioner, has done much of the work in preparing for this event and I’m sure it will live up to expectations.

It’s only 45 minutes away, why not take a day and see some pretty good volleyball. I’d say most of the matches will resemble what we saw on Saturday, November 22 when Dordt beat Indiana Wesleyan in the opening round.

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On the NAIA football front Sioux Falls is the lone remaining GPAC member in the semifinals after blowing out their quarterfinal opponent. Morningside lost on a last second field goal to prevent half of the final four hailing from the GPAC.

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Basketball on Wednesday. Women’s and mens’ doubleheader. First action for the Dordt women in eight days while the DC men got a couple wins in Wisconsin over the weekend. I’m anxious to see the strides the women’s team makes in the next two weeks leading up to the Christmas break. Dakota Wesleyan’s men are without reigning GPAC Player of the Year Preston Broughton who is out with knee problems until 2009-2010. Should be a wild race in the GPAC this year on the men’s side. I don’t think there is a clear cut favorite out there.