16 August 2012
KOKOMO, Ind. – Jessica Roller is fired up for the first-ever NAIA season of Cougar athletics at Indiana University Kokomo. She is ready to cheer on the teams, but she hopes to root for the Cougars as a member of the new cheerleading squad.
Since the addition of competitive sports last fall, school spirit has reached new heights. This prompted Roller and others to continue the enthusiasm by bringing cheerleading to campus.
"Having cheerleaders at the games will show how excited we are as a campus," Roller said, who cheered in high school. "When the crowd is involved, it makes the games that much more fun."
Roller encourages all students to get involved. As a leadership minor, she believes this will be a great leadership opportunity for students, too.
Chelsea Bower, cheerleading coach.
Coaching the Cougar cheerleaders will be Chelsea Bower, who brings 10 years of experience.
"I want to help build traditions at IU Kokomo," Bower said. "We will bring a lot of new material, some dances and signature cheers, and really get the crowd involved."
Bower looks to build a fun squad of up to eight men and women with sharp skills, experience, and a lot of creativity. They will cheer at all men's home basketball games, and possibly at women's home volleyball games.
She is excited to lead students in a transition from high school to collegiate cheerleading. Bower says engaging the crowd and student section will be a major component of their game performances.
An open gym practice is set for Wednesday, August 29, time and place to be announced. Tryouts will take place Friday, August 31, in the Kelley Student Center, Room 130, from 5 to 7 p.m. Tryouts are open to all full-time students at IU Kokomo.
During the open gym practice, those who try out will learn a dance and cheer to be performed on August 31. Participants will also be expected to perform an original cheer and jumps. Tumbling is optional.
Bower's experience includes four years of cheering at Manchester College. Previously, she coached the junior varsity squad at Maconaquah High School and is the current coach of the 8th grade squad at Lewis Cass Junior-Senior High School.
For more information, contact Chelsea Bower at kosports@iuk.edu or (765) 513-7026.
Story written by Mary Olk. Mary is a senior majoring in communication arts, and is a writer for the Office of Media & Marketing.
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.
24 July 2012
KOKOMO, Ind. — Cougar sports fans won't have to miss one second of the action this season, with the launch of a new Indiana University Kokomo athletics website today.
Athletics' new website.
Jace Thompson, men's basketball coach, said the upgrades allow for more interaction with students and fans.
"We're focused on the athletes and what we're doing with the athletic department. We can text out scores, and we're going to be able to show live broadcasts of the games," he said. "Our fans can get instant updates on our teams."
The website, www.iukcougars.com, includes schedules for women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, and men's basketball teams, as well as stats for players and teams.
It also includes interactive features, such as an opt-in texting service for breaking news alerts and links to social media sites. When teams play away games, there will be links to radio and/or television broadcasts.
In addition, the site features videos and pictures from games and community service projects.
"We have a dedicated fan base, and this will generate energy among them," Thompson said. "It will give the Cougar Crazies a place to show their enthusiasm for our teams."
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.
01 May 2012
Jason VanAlstine
VanAlstine, who is also an assistant professor of economics, wants to field a team with men and women committed not only to being competitive athletes, but also to being outstanding students.
"These runners will be very visible representatives of IU Kokomo as they train on trails and roads in our community," he said. "I expect them to represent the campus in a positive manner academically as well. It is an honor to be part of the first team, in our first year in the NAIA."
VanAlstine, a first-time coach, was a four-year member of the varsity cross country team at St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa. He has started recruiting efforts, with plans to begin practices this summer.
He said IU Kokomo will be attractive to students because "they can get a prestigious Indiana University degree in a smaller, more personal setting, and run on a college team."
Chancellor Michael Harris said the addition of cross country is part of an intentional effort to create a more vibrant student life experience for students.
"Athletics is a key part of the student life experience," he said. "This will be an exciting season for the Cougars, as we join the NAIA and double the number of sports teams available to our students."
Harris announced in 2011 that IU Kokomo would add club sports, starting with women's volleyball and men's basketball, and set the goal of joining the NAIA. With the cross country teams, IU Kokomo now offers four team sports.
Jack Tharp, interim athletic director, said meets will be scheduled during the fall semester. He anticipates great interest in IU Kokomo's newest sport.
"We have a lot of active running clubs and outstanding high school cross country teams in our region," he said. "Many of those athletes will see this as a great opportunity to earn a degree here and continue to train and run competitively after high school. These teams will be good additions to our campus."
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.
16 April 2012
KOKOMO, Ind. — Indiana University Kokomo athletics will compete this fall in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) conference, after the Council of Presidents approved the campus for full membership. IU Kokomo was one of four institutions accepted under the new, more rigorous, annual membership process.
The vote came Sunday (April 15) during the NAIA’s annual meeting in Newport Beach, Calif., attended by Chancellor Michael Harris and other campus officials. The NAIA received seven applications in 2011, but only four made it through the entire process and received approval by the Council of Presidents.
“This is a historic moment for Indiana University Kokomo. As members of the NAIA, our athletics program will play a vital role in moving our campus forward, not only for IU Kokomo but for north central Indiana as well,” Harris said.
It was less than two years ago that Chancellor Harris announced the campus would offer club sports, with the intention to apply to the NAIA within the same year.
“We have achieved great milestones in record time,” Harris said. “I am grateful to Jack Tharp, Sarah Sarber, and Kathryn Stremiecki for their dedication and commitment to ensuring a successful athletics program at IU Kokomo. Also, much appreciation goes to our athletics advisory board and many others who have contributed to this momentous occasion.”
The NAIA Membership Committee reviewed each institution’s application and determined which institutions would move to the next stage of the process. Those institutions then participated in a campus visit by a Membership Evaluation Team. The results of those campus visits were reported to the Membership Committee, which then decided whether to recommend institutions to the Council of Presidents for final approval.
“We are pleased to accept these quality institutions as NAIA members,” said Ted Brown, chair of the NAIA Council of Presidents and President of Martin Methodist College (Tenn.). “This was the first year of a new process put in place to strengthen the review of membership applications, and it has worked well.”
Institutions applying to the NAIA must meet membership criteria that include sports sponsorship, accreditation and a commitment to character-driven athletics. The Membership Committee also reviews enrollment numbers, graduation percentages, retention rates, recruiting budgets, total athletics expenses and total athletics revenue.
Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO, noted that these new members were subjected to a more rigorous analysis than in the past.
“Our process ensures that the NAIA membership is strong and that new members share our values,” Carr said.
IU Kokomo offers women’s volleyball and men’s basketball, and has added men’s and women’s cross country beginning with the 2012-2013 academic year.
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.
22 March 2012
Volleyball will be played at Maple Crest Middle School, one block from campus, while the basketball team moves to Kokomo High School, only minutes away on Berkley Road.
"It will be wonderful to have the Cougars play closer to campus where it will be more convenient for students to attend games," said Sarah Sarber, dean of students. "We invite the community to come and cheer on our student athletes as well."
Sarber added that campus officials are grateful to Northwestern High School, which hosted volleyball, and Western High School, which hosted basketball, for allowing use of their gyms during the teams' first year.
"We couldn't have done it without them. They were a key part of our success this year," she said.
The volleyball team continues training and conditioning at Northwestern High School, while the basketball team uses the Morning Star Church gym and trains at the YMCA.
"The whole community has really embraced these athletes and our program," Sarber said. "We've made some great connections and partnerships with community organizations in the last year."
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.
22 March 2012
These two programs bring the number of team sports to four in just one short year since Chancellor Michael Harris announced IU Kokomo would start an athletic program.
"These teams will enhance student life, as well as continue to bring the campus and community together to rally around students who wish to continue in athletics," said Jack Tharp, vice chancellor for student services and interim athletic director.
"We are excited to debut these two new teams during the fall competition season."
Students who join cross-country will quickly become the campus's most visible athletes, training not only on campus, but also on roads and trails and in parks throughout the city. A search is underway for a cross-country coach, and students interested in being recruited for the teams can e-mail kosports@iuk.edu.
Thursday's announcement capped a year that included the first seasons for women's volleyball and men's basketball. Tharp is hopeful to begin the second year of team sports by joining the NAIA. The association visited campus in February and will announce its decision in April.
The addition of the cross-country program is a step to fulfill the NAIA requirement of having six varsity sports within four years of joining.
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.
16 February 2012
RUSSIAVILLE, Ind. -- Nothing like putting the finishing touches on a great season. The Indiana University Kokomo Cougars wrapped up their inaugral season with a 96-77 victory over the visiting St. Francis jayvee squad here.
Cougar Crazies watch the action
Thursday night, putting five players into double figures, Anthony Graves led the Cougars with 23 points while Nathaniel Carroll and Brandon Larrick each chipped in 15. Aaron Knupp and Jared Lawrence finished with 12 points each.
That was the plan from the start, said first-year Coach Jace Thompson after the game."We said it in the locker room and wrote it on the board," Thompson said. "Keep your hands high, attack on offense, and the end result will be a victory."
Kokomo led 49-44 at halftime, then came out in the second half and started trading baskets with St. Francis until about the 14-minute mark until a 10-3 run by the visitors cut IUK's lead to 65-64. But the Cougars answered -- in a big way. Lawrence canned a pair of free throws then dropped in a three-pointer from the right wing. Carroll followed a St. Francis miss with his own three-pointer that ignited a 20-2 IUK run.
When the dust settled with just over four minutes to play, the Cougars were comfortably in control, 85-66.
Five different Cougars scored in the outburst.
"We have a lot of guys capable of knocking down those shots," Thompson said.Thompson began the game with a different look, utilizing a starting five consisting of players who usually don't see a lot of playing time.
"Those are the guys who probably weren't anywhere last year," Thompson explained. "They came in here and worked hard in practice despite not seeing a lot of playing time. They deserved a chance to hear their named called. If you noticed, the starters were standing, applauding their effort."
IUK enjoyed a nice advantage on the boards, out-rebounding St. Francis 41-23, led by Larrick's 11 rebounds.
"Brandon decided he was going to come out and let loose, crash the boards, go for those loose balls," Thompson said. "And he did. Then everyone else did, too. It was kind of infectious."
After the game, the Cougars first honored lone senior Jarrett Adams for his contributions, on and off the court. Chancellor Michael Harris then spoke to the crowd and team about what he called, "a historic event."
"You are now part of history," he told the team, "and you will always be able to say you were part of the first basketball team at IU Kokomo. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who helped make this a success."
For the visitors, S.J. Moultrie, a Kokomo High School graduate, was one of three players to finish with 14 points.
Story by Mike Geiselman.
10 February 2012
Trying to find an open man.
Graves is the only player on the Cougar squad who isn't a freshman, who isn't new to college basketball. So when it came to crunch time Thursday night here against visiting Grace College (JV), it was Graves that Thompson turned to and it was Graves that came through in the clutch. Trailing by two (79-78) with seven seconds left, IUK inbounded the ball to Graves who went the length on the court, driving hard to the basket. His shot was off, only because he had been fouled in the act of shooting.
Graves calmly sank both freebies with :01 showing, Grace's long inbounds was off the mark and the Cougars were celebrating a 80-79 home victory.
"We didn't have a set play in case (Grace) missed a free throw," Thompson said afterward. "Just that (Graves) was supposed to drive and create or drive and kick it out – we had a three-point shooter in the corner. When he went to the line, I had a lot of confidence that he would sink them both."
Graves finished with a team-high 20 points, despite not getting his usual start in the backcourt.
"Anthony is a very capable player but he needs to toughen up on defense," Thompson said. "He did some things in practice ... let's just say we needed to motivate him. If he was as intense on defense as he is on offense, he would be one of the best players in NAIA."
Graves did provide a spark midway through the first half, hitting consecutive baskets for the Cougars including a three-pointer from the right win that tied the game at 31. Cameron Richardson and Nathaniel Carroll followed with treys of their own, igniting a 9-2 run to end the first half, putting IUK up 40-35 at the break.
IUK held that lead until about four minutes remained when a lay-in and a free throw from Grace's Morgan Michalski put the Lancers up 72-69. With just over a minute to play, a put back from Brandon Larrick eased IUK into a 76-75 edge, heading into the dramatic final seconds.
Grace was led by Jared Treadway, a graduate of Northwestern High School, who scored a game-high 34 points, including 20 in the first half. Thompson said the goal was to put the clamps on Treadway or 7-foot Adrian Makolli, both of whom had big games against the Cougars earlier in the season. Makolli finished with just seven points on 3 of 6 shooting.
IUK balanced its attack with 18 points from Jared Lawrence, 16 from Carroll and 11 from Larrick. Lawrence scored the Cougars' first 11 points in the second half. IUK outrebounded Grace (32-24) behind six boards from Richardson and Larrick, and five from Aaron Knupp and Lawrence.
Story by Mike Geiselman.
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.
08 February 2012
KOKOMO, Ind. — Fans of the Indiana University Kokomo men’s basketball team can meet the players and coaches at a “Meet the Cougars” night Wednesday, February 8 at Harvey Hinklemeyers.
Coach Jace Thompson said the team and mascot Kingston Cougar would be at the restaurant, 1554 S. Dixon Road, from 6 to 9 p.m. He encouraged fans to bring their game tickets, which each include a coupon for three free breadsticks. Harvey Hinklemeyers is the team’s ticket sponsor for its inaugural season.
Thompson plans more community outreach for his team, as they build a fan base in north central Indiana.
“This is a way for people to get to know our guys off the court, so they have an investment in seeing our team be successful,” he said.
The Cougars (4-11) play their next game at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 9 at home against Grace College.
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.
03 February 2012
RUSSIAVILLE, Ind. – The Indiana University Kokomo men’s basketball team continues to learn and progress during its inaugural season, and this week’s lesson was how to hold a lead when the opponent is on a late game roll. Consider it a lesson learned as the Cougars withstood a fierce late game rally by the University of St. Francis (JV) to grab win number four on the year, 80-75.
Jared Lawrence at the line for the Cougars.
“We always take a win no matter how they look,” said IU Kokomo Head Coach Jace Thompson. “We are a young team and we will learn from this win.”
IU Kokomo held a slim 35-34 lead after a sloppy first half of basketball in which neither team could find its rhythm. Tied at 44, the second half looked as if it would be much of the same until the Cougars of Kokomo came to life after a 3-pointer by Jared Lawrence (Springport, Ind./Blue River Valley) started a rally that would eventually see IU Kokomo lead by as many as 17 points.
“He is a beast – he is a hard guy to handle,” said Thompson of Lawrence. “It is nice to watch him play. He makes me look like a much better coach than what I am.”
With the help of strong second-halves from Lawrence, Brandon Larrick (Kokomo, Ind./Western), Cameron Richardson (Kokomo, Ind./Northwestern) and Nathaniel Carroll (Daleville, Ind./Daleville), the Cougars were in control until St. Francis guard Brequan Tucker scored back-to-back buckets to cut the lead to nine in the closing minutes. Following a Cougar turnover, Tucker hit a shot in the paint forcing a Kokomo timeout.
“We struggled at times in transition and that caused us to get into a little bit of a funk,” said Thompson. “But it is finding ways to win it, no matter what. You get the W and get out the door and learn to fight another day.”
Kokomo found the way to win by hitting its free throws down the stretch. Carroll was a perfect 6 for 6 and Lawrence was 4 of 5 in the second half as the Cougars finished the game 13 of 19 from the charity stripe.
Lawrence led the Cougars with 14 second half points en route to a team-high 22 points on 8 of 11 shooting. Carroll had 13 second half points and scored 17 for the game, and Larrick scored 13 and grabbed 12 rebounds to post a double-double. Richardson played his best game of the season, scoring 13 points while Aaron Knupp (Springport, Ind./Blue River Valley) added eight points.
“We have guys like Aaron Knupp who I rarely have to talk to during a game because he is usually in the right place doing a lot of good things,” said Thompson.
St. Francis (9-5) was led by 28 points from Tucker, 17 from Taylor Burkhart and 12 from John Degenhardt. Kokomo High School graduate S.J. Moultrie started for St. Francis and scored one point in his return home.
The Cougars (4-11) return to action on Thursday, Feb. 9 for a home game against Grace College (JV). Game time is set for 7 p.m. in the Historic Gym at Western High School.
Story by Dean Hockney.
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.
