Tradition • Character • Service

Tradition • Character • Service

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

2009 Scholar Athletes: Embry aims to continue academic and athletic success at Hillsdale

By Brian Calloway
Daily Telegram
Mon Jun 29, 2009, 05:01 PM EDT

CLINTON, Mich. -

Whether in the classroom or on the playing field, Steven Embry wanted to be the best.

And when the recent Clinton High School graduate wasn’t able to make a physical impact on the playing field, he made it with his leadership.

Embry, who played four different sports during his prep career at Clinton, finished in the top 10 of his class with a 4.09 grade point average. He also spent time volunteering for various events and was a member of the National Honor Society.

For his success in academics and athletics, Embry has been recognized as one of the county’s top scholar athletes by the Daily Telegram’s sports staff.

“Basically a big thing for me was managing my time wisely,” said Embry, who will head to Hillsdale College this fall to continue his football career. “Obviously there were a lot of late nights and I learned to enjoy to drink coffee.”

At Clinton, Embry played football, basketball, ran track and also competed on the soccer team for a year. His most success came on the gridiron where he earned All-State honors and excelled as a kicker and linebacker for the Redskins. He was a three-time all-league selection and twice named All-County. As a senior he received the Team Punisher award — an honor Embry said is his favorite athletic award.

Injuries prevented him from playing a bigger role on the basketball court over the past two seasons, but Embry still was a valuable part of the team.

“His junior year he battled ankle problems,” Clinton basketball coach Mike Ruhl said. “He was out there, but wasn’t himself. It was frustrating because he couldn’t do a lot of the hustle things he used to do.

“Then he had back issues (this season) and only played a half of basketball. His leadership was there and he was active. I just wish I could have had him healthy because I know he would have made us that much better.”

Academically, Embry challenged himself with math and science courses. With plans to go into physical therapy, he thought those courses would best prepare him.

Ruhl, who also teaches biology and environmental science at Clinton, noticed a strong work ethic by Embry in the classroom.

“As far as academics, he always pushed himself,” Ruhl said.

“He challenged himself with his schedule and was just as competitive in the classroom. You could see that he wanted to be at the top of the class just like he wanted to be at the top of his team.”

Away from sports and academics, Embry has assisted with blood drives and volunteered for Relay for Life events and with a Fellowship of Christian Athletes football camp.

This fall, Embry will look to be a valuable contributor for the Hillsdale football program while earning a degree in physical therapy. Embry decided on the school because of the academics, the chance it gave him to play defense and with the help of Hillsdale alums Duane Pelz (Clinton’s track coach) and Ruhl.

“I feel he’s really gotten what he’s deserved as far as good people should get rewarded for their effort,” Ruhl said of Embry’s opportunity to play football and continue his education. “ ... I think he’s going to fit in. It’s a good school and it’s not too far from home.

original article

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Get Extended Coverage on Twitter

You can now follow Chargerblue.com at Twitter and get extended coverage of Hillsdale, GLIAC, and D2football. Be notified of latest blog posts and site updates as well as tidbits from around the league and nation that might not be important enough to get posted but may still be of Charger fan interest.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Mlive.com: GLIAC adds two


GLIAC approves addition of two news schools to the conference
by Kyle Austin | The Saginaw News
Wednesday June 17, 2009, 11:46 PM

Two new schools were added to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tuesday, after the conference's President's Council voted unanimously in favor of the expansion.

The two schools, Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, and Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio, will bring the conference's total to 14 full members , league spokesman Jeff Ligney confirmed. The two schools will become full members on July 1, 2010.

With the expansion comes the possibility of moving to a two-division format in football. Ligney said that issue will be discussed at the athletic directors' summer meeting on Aug. 3. GLIAC officials hope to eventually expand the league to 16 teams.

Lake Erie has a total enrollment of about 1,200 and sponsors 18 varsity sports. Ohio Dominican has about 3,000 students and sponsors 14 sports. The GLIAC last expanded in the fall of 2008, when it added Tiffin University in Ohio, following the departures of Gannon and Mercyhurst.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Charger Staff Gets its Tweet on.

Nobody can accuse the Hillsdale College Football staff of not being down with the latest technology. Several coaches have hit the airwaves with Twitter accounts.

Twitter is a unique Internet based communication tool that allows users to fire off messages of 140 characters or less to all who choose to follow them.

You can follow defensive coordinator Craig Blanchard at DCCharger, LB coach John Lindley at HC_LB_Coach, and offensive line coach Nate Shreffler at NShreffler.

Tweet on Charger fans.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Mlive.com: GLIAC Eyes Expansion


GLIAC eyes expansion
by Kyle Austin | Booth Mid-Michigan
Sunday June 14, 2009, 6:00 AM

The President's Council of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will vote Tuesday whether to add two more schools to the league in the fall of 2010.

Lake Erie College, located in Painesville, Ohio (30 miles east of Cleveland), and Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio, are the schools considered for addition, league spokesman Jeff Ligney said.

If voted in, the schools would become full members on July 1, 2010.


Total league enrollment currently stands at 12 full members and two associate members. Ligney said the plan is to eventually expand to 16 full members, which would make scheduling easier as well as cut down on travel costs.

"Sixteen is a good number," Ligney said. "It kind of insulates us from any radical changes from our membership."

With the expanded conference could come a split into two divisions for football, similar to the model the league already uses in basketball and volleyball. Saginaw Valley State Athletic Director Mike Watson said that football division was discussed at last week's Executive Council meeting in Gaylord, when school administrators recommended the expansion, but that no specific plan is set in stone yet.

"There's all types of models on the table right now," Watson said.

Ligney said expansion would cut down on travel costs by increasing the number of conference matchups, and thus decreasing the number of non-conference opponents a school would have to find and schedule, and that the round number of teams would make scheduling less difficult.

The 37-year-old GLIAC last expanded when Tiffin University in Ohio became a member for the 2008-09 school year. That followed the departure of Gannon and Mercyhurst, two schools in Pennsylvania, to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference before the academic year. Following their departure, all full member schools are in either Michigan or Ohio.

Lake Erie has a total enrollment of about 1,200 and sponsors 18 varsity sports. Ohio Dominican has about 3,000 students and sponsors 14 sports.

"We voted as athletic directors to bring in these two new institutions," Watson said. "I think that the location of the institutions will help the profile of the GLIAC, being in Cleveland and Columbus."

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Hillsdale Football Recruit Glendening Caps Prep Career with Lacrosse 3-Peat


Not only does East Grand Rapids' Joe Glendening (#28, pictured in earlier season action via MLIVE.Com) already have three straight football state championships and a Michigan Gatorade Football Player of the Year award, he now has three straight lacrosse titles.

The Pioneers defeated Orchard Lake St. Mary's last weekend in the Diviosion II title game with a 13-12 overtime victory.

Glendening had a goal and two assists before halftime as East rallied from an early deficit.

Mackie Avis, son of Hillsdale Alum and former Academy headmaster Todd Avis scored twice for EGR as well.

Glendening's career takes the next step this fall as he enters Hillsdale College to play for Keith Otterbein's Chargers.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Another Publication, Another Charger All-American

The Sporting News is out with its College Football preview and Hillsdale College kicker Mark Petro is the latest Charger to claim pre-season All-American honors.

The senior from Rocky River, OH nailed 35-36 extra points and was 15-19 kicking field goals.

Also making the team are senior offensive tackle Jared Veldheer and senior defensive lineman Drew Berube.

The Sporting News only lists a first team.

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Berube, Veldheer Make Lindy's Pre-Season All American Team

Hillsdale College senior defensive lineman Drew Berube is a pre-season first team All American and Charger senior offensive lineman Jared Veldheer makes the second team in Lindy's 2009 Division II College Football preview.

Lindy's 2009 Pre-Season All-America Team

1st Team Offense
QB-Brad Iciek (Grand Valley State)*
RB-LaRon Council (NW Missouri State)
RB-Issac Odim (Minnesota-Duluth)
WR-Logan Masters (Wayne State, NE)
WR-D.J. Winfield (Minnesota-Duluth)
TE-Jerrell NeSmith (Tusculum)
OL-Tony Washington (Abilene Christian)
OL-Terence Crosby (Catawba)
OL-Bill Behling (Michigan Tech)*
OL-Jack Hiett (Nebraska-Kearney)
OL-J'Marcus Webb (West Texas A&M)
AP-Josh Murray (North Dakota)
K-Nick Hope (Wayne State, NE)

1st Team Defense

DL-Sean Paddock (NW Missouri State)
DL-Danny Richard (Grand Valley State)*
DL-Drew Berube (Hillsdale)
DL-Marc Schiechi (Colorado Mines)
LB-John Jacobs (Saginaw Valley State)*
LB-Lardester Hicks-Green (Delta State)
LB-Mike Johnson (North Alabama)
DB-Terrence Johnson (California, PA)
DB-Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (Indiana, PA)
DB-Myles Burnside (NW Missouri State)
DB-Jesse Cooper (Bloomsburg)
P-John Gregory (Tusculum)

2nd Team Offense
QB-Billy Cundiff (Ashland)*
RB-James Berezik (Grand Valley State)*
RB-Joique Bell (Wayne State, MI)*
WR-Joe Horn (Ashland)*
WR-Kyle Kaiser (Nebraska-Kearney)
TE-DeMarco Cosby (Central Missouri)
OL-Jimmy O'Rourke (Indiana, PA)
OL-Jared Veldheer (Hillsdale)
OL-Jay Nunez (Pittsburg State)
OL-Michael Stevens (Tuskegee)
OL-Bill Boyer (Washburn)
AP-Trevar Deed (Delta State)
K-Jeremy Ditzler (Gannon)

2nd Team Defense
DL-Melquan Fair (Catawba)
DL-Xavier Brown (C.W. Post)
DL-Rashad Pittman (Pittsburg State)
DL-Tony Johnson (Merrimack)
LB-Matt Shango (Wayne State, MI)*
LB-Justin Victor (Grand Valley State)
LB-Jared Brawner (Missouri Southern)
DB-Allen Bush (American International)
DB-Jeff Gowdy (Fayetteville State)
DB-Anthony Fields (Findlay)*
DB-Deante Steele (Shepherd)
P-Will Baston (North Alabama)

* Other GLIAC Players

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Wall Street Journal: How Hillsdale Beats Harvard

Check out the great read from today's WSJ by William McGurn on Hillsdale sticking to its principles.

How Hillsdale Beats Harvard.

Hillsdale's Drew Berube Named Pre-Season Division II Defensive Football Player of the Year

Hillsdale College Release:
Tuesday June 2, 2009

Drew Berube named Preseason Division II Defensive Player of the Year by Consensus Draft Services
Senior defensive end was First-Team All-GLIAC in '08
June 2, 2009 - Hillsdale College senior Drew Berube was named the national Division II preseason defensive player of the year by the Consensus Draft Service Tuesday morning.

Berube, who is entering his fourth year as a starter in 2009, had a breakout season in 2008 when he led the GLIAC in sacks and tackles-for-loss. A 6-foot-4 defensive end, Berube was named First-Team All-Region following last season, and was also named honorable mention All-American by a handful of Division II websites and organizations.

A graduate of Hillsdale High School, Berube is a key part of the most experienced position on the 2009 Chargers. Berube, along with Eric Schweller, Jordan Knudsen, Kam Mueller, Mark Yassay and Andrew Yarbrough, have all started for multiple years each on the defensive line.

As part of being named to this honor, Berube will have his won online forum where friends and fans can wish him well in the upcoming season. That web address is listed below.

Online forum

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