’12

®

®

Competing with integrity, DisCipline, respeCt anD responsibility

www.goavengingangels.com

cross country

runners

Peta-Gaye allen MeGan BeeBe Sarah Boykin JeSSica BrowninG elizaBeth Bruce lourdeS caMacho

MeaGhan cooney callie daviS caitlin dorantich allie GallaGher lacey haMBridGe illa JoneS

aShley kate keSler alex MayeS Sydney Maxwell lara Pantlin lindSay ParlBerG yailyn Polanco

katie riGGS kriStin rivera MaGGie roBinSon Mollie Schrull MorGan youd

2012 cross country rostername yr. Ht. Hometown / High schoolPeta-Gaye Allen So. 5’2” Garner, N.C. / Garner

Megan Beebe Sr. 5’5” Salisbury, Md. / James M. Bennett

Sarah Boykin Jr. 5’2” Fuquay-Varina, N.C. / Middle Creek

Jessica Browning Fr. 5’4” Morganton, N.C. / Draughn

Elizabeth Bruce Fr. 5’7” Raleigh, N.C. / Sanderson

Lourdes Camacho So. 5’2” Las Vegas, Nev. / Western

Meaghan Cooney Fr. 5’8” Charlotte, N.C. / Providence

Callie Davis So. 5’10” Lumberton, N.C. / Lumberton

Caitlin Dorantich So. 5’8” Newport, N.C. / West Carteret

Allie Gallagher Fr. 5’6” Raleigh, N.C. / Leesville

Lacey Hambridge Fr. 5’2” Charlotte, N.C. / Providence

Illa Jones Fr. 5’4” Denton, N.C. / Gray Stone Day

Ashley Kate Kesler So. 5’2” Gold Hill, N.C. / East Rowan

Alex Mayes Fr. 5’1” Mount Airy, N.C. / Mount Airy

Sydney Maxwell Jr. 5’7” Cary N.C. / Apex

Lara Pantlin Jr. 6’1” Cary, N.C. / Athens Drive

Lindsay Parlberg So. 5’3” Birch Run, Mich. / Birch Run

Yailyn Polanco Jr. 5’5” Sanford, N.C. / Lee Senior

Katie Riggs Jr. 5’5” Richlands, N.C. / Richlands

Kristin Rivera Fr. 5’0” Johns Creek, Ga. / Northview

Maggie Robinson Fr. 5’5” Lincolnton, N.C. / North Lincolnton

Mollie Schrull Jr. 5’4” Sanford, N.C. / Lee County

Morgan Youd Sr. 5’7” Cary, N.C. / Green Hope

head Coach: Amy Olsenassistant Coach: Bill Koester

WeatHerspoon GymnasiumThe home to Meredith’s basketball and volleyball teams. The facility

provides up-close seating for over 500 spectators. The complex also

includes locker rooms, athletics offices, a training room, a fitness

center, a 5,000 square-foot dance studio and a six-lane, indoor

swimming pool.

mereditH atHletic Field and track complexThe home to Meredith’s soccer, cross country and lacrosse teams. The

complex includes a lighted competition level track, a FieldTurf artificial

playing surface capable of supporting soccer and lacrosse games and a

storage facility. Future phases of the project will include a grandstand,

hospitality areas, support facilities, restrooms, brick arcade and locker

rooms. The cross country team uses the complex as well as the

College’s 225-acre campus and the Reedy Creek Greenway.

mereditH soFtball complexThe home of Meredith softball has undergone several renovations

in the last year. The addition of irrigation to the Bermuda field and

infield improvements have stepped up the playing conditions to

make it one of the best fields in the area. New dugouts have also

been completed to increase comfort for the players and enhance

the game atmosphere.

mereditH tennis complexThe home of the Meredith tennis program includes six lighted tennis

courts. Over the summer of 2007, the courts were resurfaced with a

new color scheme—a “US Open Blue” inner court surrounded by a

green outer court. This new color scheme will help to heighten the

visibility of the ball for players and fans.

atHletic Facilities

The cross country team runs a competitive schedule in local and

regional meets.

coacHinG staFFamy olsen

Amy Olsen enters her seventh sea-

son as head coach of the Meredith

College Cross Country team. Olsen

coached the team to a third place

finish in 2010 and 2011 and three

consecutive fourth place finishes in

the USA South Athletic Conference

championships in their first four

years in the conference. The 2006

team completed a third place finish

in the USA South as a non-confer-

ence member and won the Division III State Championship in 2005.

Olsen has been with the program since it was established as a varsity

sport in 2005.

Olsen came to Meredith from NCAA Division I member Duke Univer-

sity where she served two years as the women’s cross country/track

assistant coach. During her time there, they finished as the NCAA

cross country national runner-up in 2005. Previously, Olsen served

five years as head cross country/ track coach at Charleston Southern

University. She also served two years as graduate assistant coach

at Northern Arizona University. While she was there, the men’s and

women’s teams finished in the top 10 in the Division I NCAA cross

country championships.

Olsen competed in cross country and track at Eastern Kentucky Uni-

versity. Her accomplishments included obtaining the school record

in 10,000 meters and becoming a three-time Ohio Valley Conference

Cross Country champion. She was also a top ten finalist for NCAA

Woman of the Year award in 1995.

Olsen holds a Master of Arts in exercise science from Northern

Arizona University and a Bachelor of Arts in physical education from

Eastern Kentucky University.

bill koester

Bill Koester enters his seventh season as assistant coach of the

Meredith College Cross Country team. Koester has been with the pro-

gram since it was started as a varsity sport in 2005.

Koester has more than 20 years of coaching experience in cross coun-

try and track and field. Koester was

the assistant cross country and track

coach at Cardinal Newman High

School. While there he coached the

team to three state championships,

two individual state championships

and three girls’ conference team

championships. He has also served

in other coaching positions at other

high schools to help improve the

distance programs at Millbrook High

School, North Carolina School of Science and Math and Ravenscroft

School. He helped coach the 2005 Ravenscroft High School boys

track team to its first state team championship.

Koester, who ran track while attending Saint Leo College in Florida,

is a member of the National Scholastic Sport Foundation and the

founder and editor of Trackhonors.com.

home Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meredith College Campus

alma mater/year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eastern Kentucky/1995

phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (919) 760-8734

email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . olsenamy@meredith.edu

usa soutH atHletic conFerence

Ohio

TennesseeNorth Carolina

South Carolina

Georgia

Florida

Alabama

Louisiana

Mississippi

Arkansas

Missouri

Indiana

Illinois

Wisconsin

Michigan

PennsylvaniaIowaNebraska

New York

VTNH

MA

CT RI

MD

NJ

Delaware

WestVirginia

VirginiaKansas

Texas

New Mexico

South Dakota

North Dakota

Minnesota

Wyoming

Colorado

Montana Maine

Utah

Arizona

Idaho

Oklahoma

media inFormation

All inquiries about interviews, press credentials, broadcasting

requests, and other related sports information areas should be sent

to Wendy Jones, interim sports information director, at joneswen@

meredith.edu, (919) 760-8811.

broadcastinG inFormation

The 2012-13 sports season will feature most Meredith College

home athletics events to be broadcast live and archived on the

athletics web site. The schedule for athletics events can be found

on Meredith’s official athletics web site at goavengingangels.com.

GoavenGinGanGels.comFollow the Avenging Angels on Meredith’s official athletics web site

at goavengingangels.com throughout the 2012-13 season. The site

features game notes, schedules, rosters, player and coach bios, game

recaps and special news related to the program.

sports inFormation

mereditH colleGe Quick Facts

Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raleigh, N.C.

Founded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1891

Enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,947

Nickname . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Avenging Angels

Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maroon, Black and White

Affiliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NCAA Division III

Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . USA South Athletic Conference

President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jo Allen

Athletics Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jackie Myers (Elon/1978)

Interim Sports Information Director ..................... Wendy Jones

Senior Woman Administrator/Athletic Trainer ..... Sharon Malley

Athletics Department Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (919) 760-8205

Athletics Web Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . goavengingangels.com

Mailing Address ....3800 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607

SID Office Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (919) 760-8811

SID Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . joneswen@meredith.edu

facebook.com/meredithavengingangels

twitter.com/AvengingAngels

goavengingangels.com/information/recruits/blog

the Usa south athletic Conference is home to 13 institu-

tions, five in north Carolina, four in Virginia, three in geor-

gia and one in tennessee. beginning with the 2012-13 year,

lagrange, piedmont and maryville Colleges join averett

University, Christopher newport University, Ferrum College,

greensboro College, mary baldwin College, meredith Col-

lege, methodist University, north Carolina wesleyan College

and william peace University as full members. agnes scott

College became a competing member of the conference in

the fall of 2009 as a women’s lacrosse only member. the

2013-14 year will see the transition of Christopher new-

port into a football-only member, while Covenant College

of lookout mountain, georgia, and huntingdon College of

montgomery, alabama, join as full members.

mereditH colleGe atHletics HistoryAthletics at Meredith

College began in

1904 with the advent

of Meredith’s Athletic

Association. The first

competitive games

against other schools

were held in 1904 with two games against St. Mary’s College. In the

early years, Meredith athletic activities included swimming, soccer,

horseback riding, tennis, baseball, basketball, golf, football and field

hockey. The first events were primarily inter-class competitions. In

1937, Meredith became a part of the United States Conference.

In 1944, Meredith’s freshman-sophomore basketball team

defeated the team from what is now Peace College, marking the

beginning of a cross-town rivalry between the two Raleigh women’s

colleges. In 1952, the basketball team and the field hockey team

pulled out impressive victories against the University of North

Carolina and Duke.

In 1970, Meredith athletics took on a new life with the completion

of Weatherspoon Gymnasium. Volleyball and tennis saw their first

winning seasons during the 1970s. In 1980, the golf team won the

NCAIAW state championship while the tennis team took the confer-

ence title. The golf team finished second in the AIAW Division III

national tournament in 1981, in Meredith’s first bid for a national

championship. Softball was added as a varsity sport during the

1985-86 academic year. The most recent varsity sports to be

added were cross country in 2005 and lacrosse in 2012.

In recent years at Meredith, there has been an increase in the com-

petitiveness of the athletics programs on a regional and national level

in Division III. The program has had seven NCAA tournament bids

across three different sports since 2001 (basketball 2001, 2003;

tennis 2003, 2007, 2009; and soccer 2007, 2008). In 2007, Mer-

edith’s athletics identity became the “Avenging Angels” to emphasize

the prowess of Meredith athletes. The 2007-08 season marked the

first year of competition in the

USA South Athletic Confer-

ence. Meredith was the first

single gender institution to

win a conference title with

both tennis and soccer tour-

nament wins in 2008-09. The

soccer team added a regular

season title in 2009.

mereditH colleGe atHletics proGramtHe division iii experience

Meredith athletics teams participate in Division III of the National Colle-

giate Athletic Association. Meredith College fully supports the Division III

experience that allows the student athlete to enjoy competitive sports and

other activities throughout their college years. Division III athletics offers

student-athletes the opportunity to become well-rounded individuals who

successfully integrate athletics and academics while experiencing all

aspects of college life. Student-athletes who compete at this level can

receive academic and need-based financial assistance. The athletic de-

partment is staffed and funded like any other department in the College.

academics

Meredith College’s commitment to academics is exemplified by its ath-

letics teams. Each year, the USA South Athletic Conference recognizes

its student-athletes’ hard work in the classroom by naming an Academic

All-Conference team. A student-athlete must have earned a 3.0 GPA in

each of the two semesters of a given year to be eligible. The Meredith

athletics program extends its commitment to academic success by rec-

ognizing student-athletes who earn a 3.5 cumulative GPA as members of

the Athletics Director’s Club and those who earn a perfect 4.0 GPA with

the Vice-President’s Scholar-Athlete Award. During the 2011-12 season,

61.9% of Meredith’s student-athletes finished the year with a 3.0 or

higher GPA. Of those scholar athletes, 26.2% earned at least a 3.5 GPA,

and five student-athletes were recognized with a 4.0.

medical services

In addition to the academic and fitness programs available, the

athletic training staff provides excellent care for participants. The

athletic training support staff consists of head athletic trainer, Sharon

Malley, and Assistant Athletic Trainer Heidi Roach. Dr. Doug Martini

of Cary Orthopedic serves as the program’s team physician. In addi-

tion, Meredith College serves as a clinical site for the UNC-Chapel Hill

Undergraduate Athletic Training Program. Some of the services and

equipment provided in the Weatherspoon Gymnasium include a whirl-

pool, hydrocollator, ultrasound, injury ice and electrical stimulation.

community service

Members from each team are elected to the Student Athlete Advisory

Committee that organizes support for each sport and also coordinates

community service. Past volunteer work includes Special Olympics of Wake

County, Habitat for Humanity, Service Raleigh, and the USA South Athletic

Conference’s Cans Across the Conference and Pennies for a Purpose.

about mereditH

academics and special proGrams• Meredith offers 32 majors.

• Meredith awards Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of

Music; Bachelor of Social Work; Master of Business Administration;

Master of Education; Master of Arts in Teaching; and Master of Sci-

ence in Nutrition degrees.

• The Undergraduate Research Program supports student/faculty

partnerships in the pursuit of research and creative activity in all

fields. College funds support these projects and underwrite travel

costs for students presenting their work at conferences. 48% of

Meredith students participate in undergraduate research with a

faculty member.

• Study abroad options include faculty-led summer programs in Italy,

Switzerland, Costa Rica, Iceland, France, Spain and the United

Kingdom. Meredith offers a semester study abroad program in San-

sepolcro, Italy; students can also choose from a variety of semester

and year-long travel opportunities throughout the world. Semester

programs at the United Nations in New York City or in Washington,

D.C. are also available.

• Post-baccalaureate certificate programs at Meredith include a

Paralegal Program, a Pre-Health Program, a Dietetic Internship

Program, and a Didactic Program in Dietetics.

Faculty• The undergraduate student-faculty ratio is approximately 12:1. The

average class size is 17.

• Of the 121 full-time faculty members, 93% have earned doctoral

or terminal degrees. Sixty-seven percent of the full-time faculty is

female and 33% is male.

campus and Facilities• Meredith’s 225-acre campus includes a 1,200-seat amphitheater

on a lake, seven residence halls, a music library, art galleries, a

research greenhouse, music practice rooms, auditoriums, a theater,

concert halls, a student center, computer labs, a child care lab, a

learning center, an autism lab, an astronomy observation deck, an

indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a dance studio, lighted ten-

nis courts, a putting green, an athletic field and track complex and

two miles of greenway connecting our campus to the community.

campus liFe• Total enrollment for 2012-13 is 1,947, which includes 1,665

undergraduate students and 282 graduate-level students.

• Meredith sponsors juried student exhibitions, an active

concert schedule, visiting artists and exhibitions featuring

professional artists.

• Students participate in theatre and dance performance troupes and

a variety of vocal and instrumental ensembles.

• Meredith students advance their leadership skills in programs such

as the Emerging Leader Seminar Series, Officer and Advisor Train-

ing, Sophie Lanneau Women’s Leadership Development Program

and the LeaderShape® Institute.

tuition and Financial assistance• Tuition and fees for full-time undergraduate students in 2012-13 is

$29,106, with room and board at $8,348, for a total of $37,454.

Cost for part-time students is $763 per credit hour, with a gradu-

ated fee schedule.

• In 2010–11, Meredith coordinated $41.8 million in financial aid

for our students.

about raleiGH• The capital city of North Carolina has a population of nearly

400,000

• Raleigh is located 150 miles west of the Atlantic Ocean

and 190 east of the Great Smoky Mountains

• Raleigh has an annual average high of 70 degrees and low

of 47

• Raleigh is a true college town; in addition to Meredith, it is

home to NC State University, Peace College, St. Augustine’s

College and Shaw University. NC Central University, UNC-

Chapel Hill and Duke University are also located within 30

minutes of Meredith’s campus.

• Area sports teams include Carolina Hurricanes (NHL), Caro-

lina Mudcats (AA baseball), Durham Bulls (AAA baseball)

and Carolina Railhawks (USL-1 soccer).

• Raleigh is home to entertainment venues including the PNC

Arena, Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion and the Progress

Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Some recent artists:

Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay and John Mayer.

• Raleigh’s active arts scene is supported by the N.C. Museum

of Art, which is connected to Meredith by a greenway that

runs through campus. Other museums include the North

Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Museum

of Natural Sciences.

2012 cross country scHedule Date opponent location time

Sep 7 at Seahawk Invitation Wilmington, N.C. 6 p.m.

Sep 14 at Adidas Cross Country Challenge Cary, N.C.

Sep 28 at Great American Cross Country Festival Cary, N.C.

Sep 29 at 29th Annual Greensboro XC Invitational Pleasant Garden, N.C. 1 p.m.

Oct 13 at Christopher Newport Invitational Newport News, Va. 12 p.m.

Oct 27 vs. USA South Cross Country Championships Pleasant Garden, N.C. 12 p.m.

Nov 10 vs. NCAA South/Southeast Regional Hampton, Va. 11 a.m.

Schedule is subject to change. Visit www.goavengingangels.com for up-to-date information.

3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5298www.goavengingangels.com 12-151