Ken Weller: A Founding Father of DIII

 

written by STEVE ULRICH your must-read briefing on what's driving the day in NCAA Division III >> Good Wednesday morning. It's National Puppy Day. But isn't every day "Puppy Day"? >> Today's Word Count: 1,171. About five minutes of your busy morning. >> Would you be interested in sponsoring D3Playbook? Give us a shout for all the details. >> Thanks for reading D3Playbook. Is your staff reading D3Playbook? Share the love and the info.   Sign Me Up, Please! TOP STORY 1. Ken Weller: A Founding Father of DIII Ken Weller and his wife, Shirely, behind the Flying Wedge at the NCAA Hall of Champions "He was regarded as one of America's top college and university presidents. He oversaw the physical transformation of the Central College campus and the rise of the school's enrollment to record levels. As an NCAA vice president, he was instrumental in integrating women's athletics within the NCAA. His was a prominent and highly respected national voice in intercollegiate athletics. He was a passionate advocate for the student-athlete concept and even authored the original Division III philosophy.             This isn't about any of that.             Ken Weller, who passed away Friday at age 96, was Central's president from 1969-90 and the school's president emeritus for the 32 years since, but to students, coaches and fans he was a wise mentor, cheerleader, Central fan and loyal friend.             He was Forever Dutch." >> Situational Awareness: "Central has won 11 NCAA Division III team championships and he personally witnessed most of them. When coach Ron Schipper put Central on the athletics map with an improbable Stagg Bowl victory in Alabama in 1974, he was there. When Cam Ratering and her Central teammates navigated the snowy, slippery cross country course in Kenosha, Wis. en route to capturing the NCAA's first-ever women's championship in 1981, Weller was there, with his patient, heavily bundled wife Shirely snapping photos with the family's Kodak Instamatic camera. When Central's Deana Bergquist lined a 3-run hit with two outs in the bottom of the seventh for a one-run NCAA softball title game win over Allegheny College (Pa.) in 1988, he and Schipper were loudly cheering from behind the center field fence." >> Why It Matters: "It was mostly just making campus feel like home," said Laura (Bach) Olson '93, who was a softball catcher and a member of two national championship squads.. "Everyone always talks about how when they walk on Central's campus, it just feels like home. And I think he was one of the reasons, quite honestly. You knew you were important to him. I don't know how many people would think that if they were having a rough time or they needed something that you could walk into the president of the university's office and talk with them. We went to his house right away when we were freshmen and he knew who I was. It felt special." >> Of Note: "Weller’s Division III philosophy advocated that the focus of intercollegiate athletics should be on benefits for the participant rather than the spectator, and that student-athletes be treated no differently than students involved in other co-curricular activities. He also was passionate in his belief that excelling in one aspect of campus life need not come at the expense of other areas and that academics and athletics pursuits were, in fact, complementary. Weller pointed with pride to Central’s lengthy list of NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients and CoSIDA Academic All-America honorees. He was called a founding father of Division III by The Intercollegiate Athletic Forum in 1996." >> The Final Word: "There will never be another Dr. Weller," said wrestling coach Eric Van Kley. "He is as impressive of a leader as I've ever met, but an even better friend." >> Read More >> Obituary BASKETBALL 2. All-Americans      Now that the Division III basketball season has come to an end, it is time to recognize the outstanding players that made the 2021-22 campaign memorable. D3hoops.com - Men First Team G-Buzz Anthony, Sr., Randolph-Macon G-Jack Davidson, Sr., Wabash G-Matthew Schner, Sr., Emory F-Ryan Turell, Sr., Yeshiva F-Matthew Leritz, Sr., Illinois Wesleyan Player of the Year: Buzz Anthony, Randolph-Macon Rookie of the Year: John Adams, WPI >> Complete Team NABC - Men First Team Marcus Azor, Mass-Dartmouth Buzz Anthony, Randolph-Macon Levi Borchert, UW-Oshkosh DJ Campbell, Stockton Conner Delaney, Johns Hopkins Jason Ellis, Marietta Josiah Johnson, Mary Hardin-Baylor Mathew Leritz, Illinois Wesleyan Sam Peek, Wesleyan Ryan Turell, Yeshiva (Player of the Year) >> Complete Team D3hoops.com - Women First Team G-Elyce Knudsen, Soph., Millikin G-Kenedy Schoonveld, Sr., Hope F-Hanna Geistfeld, Sr., Bethany Lutheran F-Jenna Taylor, Sr., Simpson F-Hailey Coleman, Sr., Trinity (Texas) Player of the Year: Kenedy Schoonveld, Hope Rookie of the Year: Belle Pellecchia, New York U. >> Complete Team WBCA - Women First Team Abby Anderson, Scranton Tara Bieniewicz, Trine Sondra Fan, Christopher Newport Hanna Geistfeld, Bethany Lutheran Elyce Knudsen, Millikin Diarra Oden, Johns Hopkins Maggie Russell, Tufts Kenedy Schoonveld, Hope (Player of the Year) Dani Valdez, Amherst Jenny Walker, New York U. >> Complete Team A MESSAGE FROM MONEYMADE   Do you currently invest in stocks? What about a retirement account? Take your investing to the next level by diversifying your portfoilo into asset classes like fine wine, real estate, crypto, NFTs and more. Track Your Portfolio & Assess Your Risk - Connect and track all of your investments, across all asset classes, from one place (no more spreadsheets!). MoneyMade members (membership is 100% free) also receive a portfolio analysis to see their portfolio's diversification, risk, asset allocation and more. Try us today. COVID 3. Playing Rules Waivers   Due to continuing challenges resulting from COVID-19, playing rules waivers for several sports have been granted for the 2022 spring season.  Click here to access the waivers found under “Playing Rules Resources” on the playing rules page on ncaa.org. The playing rules waivers are consistent with the guidance included in the previously published NCAA Resocialization of Collegiate Sport documents. In this regard, the NCAA playing rules committees and staff will continue to monitor any additional developments and make adjustments as appropriate. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Rachel Seewald. A MESSAGE FROM D3PLAYBOOK Help us help you. We are glad that you are enjoying D3Playbook. Now won't you help us continue our work? Your gift helps us offset the costs of operating the newsletter and enable us to continue to provide the quality you have come to expect. Please contribute today.   Make A Gift to D3Playbook BASEBALL 4.   Pioneers Stake Hold on No. 1 Jack Thomson, Lewis & Clark In a week that saw some shakeup in the top 10, Marietta solidified its hold atop the D3baseball.com/NCBWA rankings. Marietta (24), 12-2 Birmingham-Southern, 14-4 Eastern Connecticut, 8-1 Lynchburg, 14-3 Texas-Dallas, 17-3 LaGrange (1), 17-1 Cortland, 13-6 Webster, 10-3 Rowan, 8-3 North Central (Ill.), 13-5 >> Movers and Shakers: Loras (+7), Johns Hopkins (-11) >> New to the Poll: Oswego State, Hendrix >> Undefeated Teams (5): Loras 16-0, Roger Williams 10-0, New York U. 9-0, Colby 5-0, Tufts 5-0 >> Home Run Leaders: Jack Thomson (Lewis & Clark) 9, Peter Giombetti (Catholic) 8, Joe Jimenez (Texas Lutheran) 8, Freddie March (Elmhurst) 8, Ryan McCarty (PSU Abington) 8 >> Strikeout Leaders: Sayers Collins (East Texas Baptist) 61, Jack Hodgins (Hendrix) 55, Collin Kiernan (Kean) 54, Logan Martin (Sewanee) 53, Jay Cassady (CNU) 50 >> Complete Poll NEWS 5.   Lightning Round     Rhodes junior attacker Emily Bruner and Franklin & Marshall senior goalkeeper Emily Kitchin were named the IWLCA Division III Players of the Week.   Centre's JP Vaught and Carnegie Mellon's Kendra Noneman named National Athletes of the Week by the USTFCCCA.   Central OF Franie Burnett and Loras RHP Ashlyn Hemm captured the NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Week awards.   Randolph-Macon's Josh Merkel named NABC Division III Coach of the Year   Cake and candles to Franciscan head men's soccer coach Brent Ridenour. Do you know of someone celebrating a birthday this month? Drop us a line at D3Playbook@gmail.com. SPONSORED BY PRESTO SPORTS TRANSACTIONS 6.  Comings and Goings   BETHANY - Chelsey Fletcher named faculty athletics representative GUILFORD - Mike Bair named head men's soccer coach LASELL - Jared Lewis named head men's soccer coach LETOURNEAU - Alyssa Taramona stepped down as head women's soccer coach RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE - Hannah Ambrosia named assistant women's lacrosse coach ROANOKE - Frank Shushok Jr., named president ROCKFORD - Jallen Bashford named assistant football coach. Cody Casazza named assistant football coach SCRANTON - ZJ Morse named assistant sports information director 1 THING 7.  Food for Thought   Thanks for starting your day with us. What did you think of today's newsletter?  Please invite your friends to sign up for D3Playbook

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