WHAC Expands for 2012-13 Season

The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) is expanding to 12 teams in July. Two schools located in the heart of Michigan, Lawrence Technological University and Marygrove College, have been approved for membership. Both athletic programs will play a full conference schedule for 2012-13 season. The WHAC and its teams compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

A private university located in Southfield, Lawrence Tech is committed to preparing students to not just compete in their field of study, but to lead it. The university offers more than 60 programs in four colleges - architecture and design, arts and sciences, engineering, and management - and has an enrollment of nearly 5,000 students.

"The level of competition in the WHAC will be good for Lawrence Tech's students as they prepare to be innovative leaders," said Lawrence Tech president Lewis N. Walker. "Lawrence Tech has a long legacy of athletics and we are happy to return competition that provides an enriched experience."

Lawrence Tech will compete in basketball, cross country, and soccer for both the men and women, and women's volleyball. Non-conference sports include men's bowling and men's hockey. The school joined the NAIA this fall and is competing as an independent for the 2011-12 athletic season.

"Everyone in the WHAC has been very helpful throughout the process," noted Scott Trudeau, Lawrence Tech athletics director. "We look forward to competing in a strong conference as we continue to build our programs."

Marygroveis an independent Catholic liberal arts college sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary with an enrollment of 950. The college prides itself on fostering Christian values, educating students from diverse backgrounds, and serving the people of Metropolitan Detroit and beyond.

"This is an important milestone for Marygrove's growing athletics program," said Dr. David J. Fike, Marygrove president. "It is a testament to the dedication, determination, and impact of embracing the Champions of Character tenants of our student-athletes and coaches."

Marygrove's athletic program fosters the benefits of physical and spiritual wellness, academic commitment, and leadership development and instills the theory that participating in athletics is a privilege. The Mustangs will compete in 13 varsity sports - five for the men and six for the women. Both genders will field teams in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and track & field while the women will also compete in volleyball.

"The entire Marygrove athletics department is excited to be a part of the WHAC," commented Dave Sichterman, director of athletics, wellness & recreation. "Membership in the WHAC will provide new opportunities for our student-athletes and is an additional source of pride for the entire Marygrove community."

The WHAC recently expanded from eight institutions to 10 after the addition of the University of Northwestern Ohio in 2010 and Lourdes University (Ohio) in 2011. Aquinas College (Mich.), Concordia University (Mich.), Cornerstone University (Mich.), Davenport University (Mich.), Indiana Institute of Technology, Madonna University (Mich.), University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Siena Heights University (Mich.) have been members since 2005.

"This is an exciting time to be part of the WHAC and the NAIA," said WHAC commissioner Rob Miller. "Lawrence Tech and Marygrove fit nicely with the conference's commitment to provide members a high-quality student-athlete experience."

School Information

Lawrence Tech

Southfield, Mich.

President: Lewis N. Walker

Founded: 1932
AD: Scott Trudeau

SID: Brad Beyer

Mascot (colors): Blue Devil (blue/white)

Men's Sports: basketball, cross country, soccer, bowling, hockey

Women's Sports: basketball, cross country, soccer, volleyball

Main Website: www.ltu.edu 

Athletics Website: www.bluedevilathletics.com 

Marygrove College

Detroit, Mich.

President: David J. Fike, Ph.D. 

1927

AD: Dave Sichterman

SID: Tim Johnston

Mascot (colors): Mustangs (green/gold)

Men's Sports: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field

Women's Sports: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, volleyball

Main Website: www.marygrove.edu 

Athletics Website: www.marygrovemustangs.com 

Local University Rounding Third with New Baseball Program and Stadium

By Peter J. Wallner

Originally published May 16, 2012, in The Grand Rapids Press and on MLive.com.

Cornerstone's Dave Mitroff longs to see his baseball team swing a bat, but until then, he'll watch construction workers wield shovels instead.

Cornerstone has a baseball program but doesn't have a team - just yet. Mitroff has players recruited, but he doesn't have a stadium or a season - just yet.

But the Golden Eagles are rounding third and headed for home.

"This has been an incredible time," Mitroff said.

Cornerstone announced in September it would revive the sport, last played in 1996, thanks to a $1.5 million donation from Jack and Mary DeWitt of Request Foods in Holland. A groundbreaking ceremony on a new stadium was held Nov. 2. It's expected to be completed in August. The first game is tentatively set for Oct. 13, a Saturday, against Judson University in a fall game before the season starts in February.

Mitroff, who has more than 800 games of coaching experience, was hired last October. Since, he has been busy throughout the season, even without playing a game.

"Probably about 90 percent of our time has been spent on recruiting," said Mitroff, 52, who, with assistants Ron Engels and Chuck Lowitzki, has signed 30 players with verbal commitments from five others. The goal is to have 40 players with 15 on a junior varsity team, he said.

"We started behind the eight ball because we got a late start after a lot of early guys had committed before October," said Mitroff, who had been the assistant varsity baseball coach at Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake, Ill. "So we've literally been all over the country, networking and trying to establish a connection with a lot of Christian schools, a lot of scouts and college coaches and let them know what Cornerstone is all about."

The team will be diverse, Mitroff said. The Golden Eagles have recruits from New Jersey, Florida and British Columbia, along with five from Cornerstone who survived a tryout. Mitroff will also have his son, also named Dave, who will transfer from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. and play his last season with Cornerstone.

"It's just a unique opportunity to play for my dad," said the young Mitroff, a 22-year-old catcher who will convert to pitcher. "I can save money at the same time, so it just made sense."

As the first season nears, Mitroff hopes to avoid the pitfalls of other first-year programs, such as Lourdes University, from Sylvania, Ohio. The fellow WHAC member won just one conference game and went 8-45 overall this season.

"Pitching and defense wins championships, so you have to be strong up the middle," Mitroff said. "And I'm pretty certain we have some guys who can swing it. But like any coach, I'm concerned about pitching."

When Mitroff isn't on the recruiting trail, he is on campus where construction began earlier this month on the new stadium.

"I'll be out there every day giving them doughnuts and coffee," he said.

The stadium, located in the middle of the campus and adjacent to the soccer field, will have seating for about 500, with an outfield berm where another 1,000 can watch.

The dimensions are 325 feet along the left and right field lines and 400 feet to center. It will also have lights, a clubhouse, batting cages and be covered by a Field Turf synthetic surface.

But most interesting, the stadium will be connected to two dormitories, to be built next year. Rooms will overlook the stadium - with shatterproof windows and strategic netting.

"I've been around and talked to lot of people, and no one has seen anything like it," said Dave Grube, Cornerstone's athletic director. "It will be unique to Cornerstone and certainly very beneficial to us as well as summer camps."

Mitroff has kept tabs on the competition in the WHAC this season, and watched a number of games while waiting for next season to begin.

"Oh, yeah, I've been following," he said. "Not having a team, I've been around the country but I've also had a chance to watch, and I was at the conference tournament."

The Golden Eagles' first official game is Feb. 15 in Memphis, Tenn. against Victory University. The first home game will be March 15 against Taylor University.

"I really feel honored to be in this position we're in," Mitroff said. "We have great support. We're going to get there. But it's been killing me to just watch all this baseball."

� 2012 MLive.com. All rights reserved.