A regular column by Athletic Director Bill Husak.
It has been some time since I have written a column for Perspectives. I promise to be more diligent in my columns for the future. Let me attempt to catch up on some thoughts about our program from this past year.
This year has been one of great achievement and change. After winning the Commissioner's Cup last year, we didn't do quite as well in our WCC sports. The rhythms that are associated with Athletics programs include not just Commissioner's Cup standings, but also so many other factors. Let me mention a few.
The Commissioner's Cup teams did not do as well this year as last. However, our overall winning percentage rose to 59% as an Athletics Department in our dual competitions. Special mention needs to be made for our softball team, which made it to the regional championship game after knocking out UC Santa Barbara and UCLA. This team enjoyed its best year ever and the Pacific Coast Softball Conference continues to grow in stature. Additionally, our women's water polo team had a great year winning the WWPA Championship and finishing 6th in the NCAA tournament. Finally, our women's soccer team had an incredible turnaround season and made their second appearance to the NCAA tournament.
Individual achievements also include Brian Locke who finished as the first ever back-to-back WCC Golf Champion, Laura Mickelson who also won an individual WCC Championship in Cross Country and a participant in the NCAA Track and Field Regional Championship. Pavla Mesterova was also selected as an alternate for the individual championship for women's tennis in the NCAA. LMU is fortunate to be blessed with so many fine athletes and coaches.
Academically we have had an outstanding year. Our student-athletes continue to have a Department GPA that ranges around 3.0. For the first time in recent history, we will post a graduation rate of 80% for student-athletes in the most recent cohort on athletic aid and 92% for all student athletes who have completed their eligibility at LMU. By comparison, we have typically ranged between 68-73% for the first statistic and 80-85% for the second. In addition, David Niemeyer received one of the most prestigious scholarship awards from the NCAA, its Post Graduate Award.
We also attempt to grow our athletes in service. All of our teams are expected to perform service, but two have become especially notable. Our baseball team spent the Friday morning of their first game against Tulane tearing down a home that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina while also sheet-rocking a home that was being built. Several of our water polo athletes were part of a student group that started Blood-Water Mission, an effort to support the building of fresh water wells in Africa to help stop the spread of disease and AIDS. This club was recognized as the best new club on campus.
Athletically talented, smart and socially conscious - that is the tradition of being an LMU Lion. Being a Lion isn't for everyone. But for those student-athletes who want to accept the athletic challenge of competing against the very best this country has to offer, accepting the academic challenge of graduating in four year at an academically rigorous institution and accepting the challenge of growing in spirit and becoming aware of the gifts they have to offer to the world there is no better place than LMU.
Go Lions!
Bill Husak
