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Tight Race for the WHAC Championship
The Cornerstone University women's and men's basketball teams are into the meat of their respective schedules and are closing in on exciting finishes in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) play. Both the women's and men's team will wrap up their regular season schedules with a trip to Lourdes University (Ohio) on Feb. 16.
 The Cornerstone women's basketball team is currently tied with Madonna University (Livonia, Mich.) for fourth place with a 7-5 conference record (13-7 overall). Concordia is currently in first place with a 13-0 conference record, followed closely by Davenport (11-1 WHAC) and Sienna Heights (9-4 WHAC). The women have eleven more conference games including matchups against the top three teams in the conference. The WHAC Tournament will begin on Feb. 20.
 The Cornerstone University men's basketball team is currently in a four-way tie with Indiana Tech, University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) and Aquinas for fifth place in the WHAC with a 7-5 conference record and is also 13-7 overall. The men trail (in descending order) Madonna, Davenport, Concordia and Lourdes in the standings. Like the Cornerstone women's team, the men have eleven more conference games followed by the WHAC Tournament. The race for the WHAC Championship will most likely come down to the wire.
Mark your calendar for the following conference home games (both men and women): Jan. 26 vs. Davenport; Jan. 31 vs. Madonna; and Feb. 13 vs. Indiana Tech.
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CU Baseball is "Rounding Third"
The Cornerstone University baseball team is in its second week of practice and hard at work to prepare for a rigorous first season. The team will leave for Memphis, Tenn., to open its season Feb. 15 against Victory University. After three games in Memphis, the team will return to Grand Rapids for another eight days of practice before heading to Lakeland, Fla., for ten games over Spring Break. The Golden Eagles will play their home opener on March 16 against Taylor University.
After completing one semester at Cornerstone as members of the new baseball program, some of the players were asked to describe what separates Cornerstone's baseball team from others. Junior transfer Alex Harmon said, "Every single person from coaches to players truly care about each other. It's amazing the work that God is doing with our baseball program and school."
Freshman Mitchell Swaney said, "The thing that sets Cornerstone baseball apart is not the fact that we're a first year program, it's not our brand new facilities, and it's not even the promise of a great season. Those are all great, but what sets CU baseball apart is our sole focus on Jesus Christ. It's our goal to win people for God while winning games on the diamond."
Justin Geerts, a freshman pitcher, said, "Being a part of this team is completely different from any other team I have played on. We have built relationships that allow us to be honest with each other, trust each other and hold each other accountable."
It is clear to see that the baseball team is coming together into a tightly knit group. They are working to represent Cornerstone University in the best way possible on and off the field. Hopefully the effort of the team will result in success this spring and for many years into the future.
 While the team and coaches are working hard to prepare for their season, construction crews are doing likewise as they work to complete Cornerstone's new stadium and facilities in time for the Dedication Day in Sept. 2013.
As the date creeps closer, Cornerstone University is announcing its "Beyond Baseball-Rounding Third Campaign" to help us complete the funding for the new one-of-a-kind stadium. Please join us in preparing the next generation to influence the world for Jesus Christ by providing students with the best possible resources. Various gift packages are available and contributions are tax-deductable.
For more information on the Rounding Third Campaign or to make your tax-deductable contribution, visit www.cornerstone.edu/rounding-third or call Bill Knott at 949.5300.
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Veltkamp and Hudson Reach New Heights
The Cornerstone University athletics department had two athletes recently reach tremendous individual milestones less than two weeks apart.
 Senior women's basketball player Robyn Veltkamp scored her 1500th career point in a win over Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, Ind. on Jan. 9. The milestone point came in the midst of a huge night by the senior where she led all scorers with 30 points and helped beat the Warriors 66-57. This season, she is averaging 17.8 points, 6.74 rebounds, and three assists per game. Veltkamp also leads the Golden Eagles with three double-doubles. She is also very close to reaching the 500 mark for rebounds and assists, with 492 and 496 respectively.
 Junior Wes Hudson, a member of the Cornerstone University men's basketball team, tallied his 1,000th career point in a win over Grace Bible College on Dec. 29. He finished the win against Grace with 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Hudson is averaging 17.4 points, three rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.
Be sure to watch both of these players as they continue their outstanding careers and congratulate them on their accomplishments.
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New Baseball Coach Gets Ready to Make Waves
 Just a few days before baseball players reported for the school year, Cornerstone University head baseball coach David Mitroff hired a new staff member, Pete Millar. Millar is a volunteer member of the staff whose duties will include coaching the JV team, the outfielders, and helping with the hitters.
After graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran College where he played baseball for four years, Pete attended Indiana State University where he earned a Master's Degree in Sport Management. Between schools, he coached baseball for two years at Beloit Memorial High School in Beloit, Wisc., and also worked at Midwest Baseball Academy.
After graduate school Millar was called to cross-cultural missions work, serving in Switzerland, China, Ireland with YWAM, and the Red-light District of Amsterdam with the Shelter Youth Hostel Ministry.
Coach Millar is enjoying his role so far at Cornerstone, saying, "I have been very impressed by the commitment of everyone affiliated with the University to serve and follow Christ on campus. I have felt very welcomed here."
When asked why he coaches baseball, he replied, "To invest in the lives of young men and develop them as outstanding people. I want them to make an impact for Christ in this world once they graduate."
Coach Millar is a unique staff member in that he is also the National Director for Global Baseball, an evangelistic baseball organization whose purpose is to use baseball as a platform to build relationships that will facilitate the opportunity to share Christ. Pete recruits and organizes short-term mission projects to Global Baseball's focus nations and is charged with developing the relationship between Global Baseball and Cornerstone University. He is currently planning and helping to raise funds for the Cornerstone baseball team's first mission trip to the Caribbean in December of 2013.
According to Coach Millar, "The Cornerstone project will [include] working with and empowering a network of house churches, playing baseball games and administering baseball schools while using that as a platform of building healthy, long-term relationships with the locals and leading them one step closer to Christ."
If you would like to contribute to the baseball team's mission trip to the Caribbean in December, you have two opportunities to help. One is to pray for all of the players and coaches who will be building relationships and sharing Jesus. The second opportunity to help is financially. You can make checks payable to "Cornerstone University" or contact the advancement office to contribute by credit card at 616.254.1659.
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Save the Date: Cornerstone University Homecoming
Don't forget to add the Cornerstone University Homecoming dates to your calendar. The 2013 Cornerstone Homecoming events run Jan. 31-Feb. 2. Saturday, Feb. 2 holds the most events, including:
- Women's Alumni Basketball Game at 9:30 a.m.
- Men's Over 30 Alumni Game at 10:15 a.m.
- Men's U-30 Alumni Game at 11 a.m.
- Rocky's Tailgate in Dining Commons at 12 noon; Cost: $6.50 adults, $3.50 children 5-12, under 5 Free
- Women's Basketball vs. UM-Dearborn at 1 p.m.
- Men's Basketball vs. UM-Dearborn at 3 p.m.
For more information and to register for events visit www.cornerstone.edu/homecoming
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