’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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected]
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected]
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