Team Championships |
1999-00 Men's Basketball Claims NAIA National Championship |
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - With the end of the regular season marred by three consecutive losses, many may have doubted the Eagles' chances in the postseason. Ridder's men were equal to the task, however, posting eight victories in a row to claim the national crown. The team was forced to battle for every single game in the FSC Tournament, winning the title by defeating its three opponents by an average margin of less than seven points. The automatic bid sent the Embry-Riddle squad into the national bracket, where they bested Dominican College (N.Y.), 74-58 in the opening round. The team then broke through the second round, which had proven to be its nemesis in the past, by edging Concordia (Ore.), 80-77. The round of eight was not as taxing, as the Embry-Riddle men cruised to a 75-52 win against Grand View (Iowa). Siena Heights had ousted the Eagles in the 1997 tournament, so the team's 92-80 win over the Michigan team in the final four was that much more rewarding. Though the Eagles may have been considered an upstart in the finals after earning a number eight seed in the bracket, they were far less of a shock than the hometown favorite and unseeded College of the Ozarks that had beaten the second seed by two to advance to the final. In front of a national television audience, the team realized its potential with a 75-63 decision against the Bobcats. Senior Jason Cruse earned first team All-America accolades after leading the Eagles on the championship run with 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Junior Kyle Mas was pegged as an honorable mention All-American, following a season of 14.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per outing. Freshman Harold Pierson (12.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg) garnered conference Freshman of the Year honors and sophomore Ryan Rothrock earned a spot on the NAIA national all-tournament team after quarterbacking the team to the crown with 12.0 points and 5.2 assists per game in the five-game stint. |
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1999-00 Season Highlights
- Earned the program's fourth Florida Sun Conference Tournament title
- Jason Cruse was named a first team NAIA All-American
- Harold Pierson was tabbed as the Florida Sun Conference's Freshman of the year
- Ryan Rothrock earned a spot on the NAIA national tournament team
- Head Coach Steve Ridder was named the NAIA National Coach of the Year
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2013 Men's Tennis Wins Program's First NAIA National Title |
MOBILE, Ala. - The Embry-Riddle men's tennis team made program history in 2013 as the top-ranked Eagles defeated No. 2 Auburn Montgomery 5-4 to capture the first national title in program history. Playing in one of the most exciting matches in championship history, the Eagles fell behind after doubles, but battled back to win four singles matches in dramatic fashion and earn the title of NAIA National Champion. The Eagles earned a berth into the national title match with three easy victories over Northwestern Ohio (5-2), Lindsey Wilson (5-1) and Westmont (5-0), but with the championship finale tied at 4-4 with just one match remaining all eyes turned to the battle between ERAU's Deni Zmak and AUM's Tim Hewitt at No. 2 singles. Zmak was victorious in the first set, downing Hewitt 6-4. The second set remained on serve until Hewitt broke Zmak to go up 5-4 and then held to force a third set. Up 5-4 in the third, Hewitt won two of the first three points of Zmak's service game and was at championship point, but Zmak drilled back-to-back aces on the way to winning that game and tie the score at 5-5. Each player held serve in their next game to make it 6-6 and force a tiebreaker. Zmak won three of the first four tiebreak points to go up 3-1, but Hewitt answered to tie things up at 3-3. From that point, a back-and-forth battle ensued, resulting in a 7-7 tie, which included Zmak saving two match points. Zmak won the next serve to go up 8-7 and on the next point, he returned Hewitt's serve with a backhand and hit a backhand slice that Hewitt was unable to return to win his 20th match of the year and secure the Eagles' national championship. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of men's tennis on Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus, the Eagles accomplished their goal of being the last team standing at the end of the 2013 campaign. In addition to capturing the national title, the Eagles set a program record for wins, closing out the season at 24-2 and ending on an 18-match win streak. |
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2012-13 Season Highlights
- Captured the program's ninth consecutive regular season conference title
- Won their fifth straight Sun Conference Tournament crown
- Chris Freeman, Patrick Besch, Deni Zmak and Anthony Grasso earned NAIA All-America honors
- Besch, Freeman and Zmak garnered ITA All-America accolades
- Set the program record for wins, closing the season with a 24-2 record
- Head Coach Dave Paschal was named the NAIA Coach of the Year
- Zmak was named the Ward-Ballinger Award winner at the national tournament
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Individual Champions |
Mislav Hizak Claims Three Consecutive ITA Men's Tennis National Titles |
Mislav Hizak etched his name into the Embry-Riddle record books not once, not twice, but three times as an individual ITA/NAIA National Champion. Hizak claimed his first title in 2005 as a sophomore, earning a spot in the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships where he registered a two-set upset over top seed ad two-time defending champion Ryler DeHeart of the University of Illinois on his way to the quarterfinals of the event. Hizak's second crown came in 2006, repeating as ITA/NAIA Champion, and became the first men's player in the 21-year ITA National Small College Championship history to repeat as "Super Bowl" Champion. The Varazdin, Croatia native made it a three-peat in 2007, an unprecedented title win with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Victor Sanakaipapi from Auburn-Montgomery. Hizak also won the ITA National Small College "Super Bowl" championship for the third straight year. |
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Hizak's Career Highlights
- Three-time ITA/NAIA National Singles Champion (2005, 06, 07)
- Three-time ITA Small College "Super Bowl" Champion (2005, 06, 07)
- Four-time ITA All-American (2005, 06, 07, 08)
- ITA Senior Men's Player of the Year (2008)
- Three-time NAIA first team All-American (2005, 06, 08)
- Three-time Sun Conference Player of the Year (2006, 07, 08)
- Four-time first team All-Sun Conference (2005, 06, 07, 08)
- NAIA's A.O. Duer Award Winner (2007)
- Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship (2007)
- James O'Hara Sargent Sportsmanship Award (2006)
- ESPN The Magazine first team Academic All-American (2007)
- NAIA All-America Scholar Athlete (2007, 08)
- Academic All-Conference (2006, 07, 08)
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Lazarov and Hizak Win 2006 ITA/NAIA National Doubles Championship
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Konstantin Lazarov and Mislav Hizak captured Embry-Riddle's first-ever ITA/NAIA National Doubles Championship in the fall of 2006, cruising to the title. Hizak, who also won the 2006 ITA/NAIA Singles title, partnered with Lazarov to go 23-3 in the 2006-07 season, including a 7-2 mark during the fall. The duo also won the ITA Small College National Title in 2006, earning a spot in the ITA "Super Bowl" where their only loss was to Rollins' Riegraf and Carszuaa. The tandem ended the season as the top-ranked duo in the country in the ITA.
Hizak and Lazarov finished their Embry-Riddle careers with 63 and 61 doubles wins respectively, placing them both in the top 10 all-time.
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Road to the title
- Quarterfinals: Defeated Oklahoma Christian's Vijoen and Truax (6-4, 6-4)
- Semifinals: Defeated Point Loma Nazarene's Gerloff and Bowman (6-4, 6-2)
- Championship Match: Defeated Benedictine's Arabyan and Plotnikov
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McCubbin Wins Back-to-Back 1,000m Championships
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Beth McCubbin, who became Embry-Riddle's first NAIA All-American in Women's Track & Field, also became the first individual woman to win a NAIA national title when she won the 2008 1,000m run at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships. McCubbin's time of 2:54.87 was nearly two seconds faster than her nearest competitor. The Palm Harbor, Fla. native earned All-America status in the 1,000m and 4X800m relay that year. She would duplicate her national title feat in 2009, beating her previous championship time with a 2:54.28 run. Again, McCubbin was part of an All-American 4x800m relay team during the Indoor National Championships; over her four-year Embry-Riddle career, McCubbin was named an All-American a total of eight times, an ERAU program record. |
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McCubbin's Career Highlights
- Two-time NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Champion: 1,000m (2008, 09)
- Eight-time NAIA Track & Field All-American (1,000m, 4x800m relay, 800m)
- Cross Country All-Region XIV (2007)
- Cross Country All-Conference (2007, 08, 09)
- Owns three of the fastest times in ERAU Cross Country history
- Holds eight Embry-Riddle Women's Track & Field Records
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Chen and Strom Claim 2010 ITA/NAIA National Doubles Championship
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Embry-Riddle's Yi Ching Chen and Josefine Strom accomplished something no other Embry-Riddle female has done. The duo captured ERAU's first national doubles title in women's tennis in the NAIA division of the 2010 USTA/ITA National Small College Championships.
After winning the first round match on Thursday, the Eagle tandem advanced to play in the semifinals on Friday morning. Seeded third in the doubles bracket, Chen and Strom upended the No. 2 seed Paola Costa and Lillian Ferreira to earn a spot in the title match. The Eagles' opponent was the fourth-seeded pair of Kirstin Strimple and Ashley Litchfield from Point Loma Nazarene, who toppled the top-seeded Auburn Montgomery team in the semis. The Eagles withstood a fierce rally from Strimple and Litchfield in the first set before pulling away 7-5 and took the second set 6-3 to claim the tournament crown. |
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Road to the title
- Quarterfinals: Defeated Lindsey Wilson's Slapeka and Milanovic (6-4, 6-3)
- Semifinals: Defeated Oklahoma Baptists' Costa and Ferreira (6-1, 6-2)
- Championship Match: Defeated Point Loma Nazarene's Strimple and Litchfield (7-5, 6-3)
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Vazquez Wins First Men's Track & Field National Title |
Sam Vazquez, a two-sport athlete for the Eagles, came away from Geneva, Ohio, the site of the 2011 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships with the first individual men's title in ERAU Men's Track & Field history. The Palm Coast, Fla. product smashed the rest of the field in the 1,000m run, finishing three seconds ahead of the closest competitor with a time of 2:24.61. Vazquez's effort helped push the Blue and Gold to a 12th-place finish at the event, their best-ever placement.
The middle distance runner was an All-American on the ERAU Men's Cross Country and a four-time All-American on the track & field squad. He holds 11 Embry-Riddle Men's Track & Field records, as well as owning five of the fastest times in ERAU Cross Country history.
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Vazquez's Career Highlights
- NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Champion: 1,000m (2011)
- Four-time NAIA Track & Field All-American (1,000m, 1 mile, distance medley, 4x800m relay)
- Sun Conference Track Athlete of the Year (2011)
- NAIA Cross Country All-American (2009)
- The Sun Conference Cross Country Runner of the Year (2008)
- Three-time first team All-Conference cross country selection (2008, 09, 10)
- Holds 11 Embry-Riddle Men's Track & Field records
- Owns five of the 20 fastest times in ERAU Men's Cross Country history
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Bardge Dominates with Three NAIA Track & Field Crowns |
Crystal Bardge spent two seasons with the Blue and Gold, winning three NAIA Track & Field National Championships, two in 2011 as a junior and one during her senior season of 2012. The Jacksonville, Fla. native claimed her first title at the 2011 NAIA Indoor National Championships, blowing away the field in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.34. Bardge followed her indoor title with an outdoor crown, claiming the 2011 NAIA Outdoor National Championship in the 100m hurdles in 13.64 seconds, winning on a photo finish.
Bardge wasn't satisifed with two national titles, and having used up her eligibility for the indoor season, entered the 2012 outdoor track & field season with a final championship in sight. For the second consecutive year, Bardge won the 100m hurdles at the outdoor championships. She shattered the national meet record in the event, clocking in a time of 13.28, over three-tenths of a second faster than her title-winning time in 2011. Her time also qualified as a "B" standard time for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Over the course of her two seasons at ERAU, Bardge earned All-America status in seven events. |
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Bardge's Career Highlights
- NAIA Indoor Track & Field Champion: 60m hurdles (2011)
- NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Champion: 100m hurdles (2011, 12)
- Seven-time NAIA All-American (60m hurdles, 200m, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 4x100m relay)
- Finalist for the College Athlete of the Year Sporty Award (2011)
- NAIA National Meet record-holder in the indoor 60m hurdles (8.34)
- NAIA National Meet record-holder in the outdoor 100m hurdles (13.28)
- Holds 11 Embry-Riddle Women's Track & Field records
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Eagle Duo of Bayh and Besch Lay Claim to 2011 ITA/NAIA National Doubles Championship |
Adrian Bayh and Patrick Besch won the Embry-Riddle Men's Tennis program's second ITA/NAIA National doubles title in the fall of 2011, making a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Fresno Pacific's Cledson Caravlho and Nathan Martinet on Oct. 16 to secure the crown. Bayh and Besch easily dispatch Eagle teammates Simon Felix and Peter Francis in the final of the ITA Florida Regionals to earn a spot in the national tournament, and the pair took advantage of the opportunity, putting together three straight match wins to win the title.
The Eagles opened up play against Bethany's Alecio and Olsen, winning 6-1, 6-3 before facing Oklahoma Christian's Tiberti and Poboril. Bayh and Besch won the first set, 7-5, but after dropping set number two, 6-1, the two Eagles dug deep and emerged with a match-clinching, 10-5 victory in the third and final set, setting up a date with the top-ranked tandem of Carvalho and Martinet of Fresno Pacific. The Sunbirds took set one, 7-6 (6), but once again, Bayh and Besch put forth a herculean effort to come away with sets two and three, 7-6 (12) and 6-4 to win the national championship. |
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Road to the Title
- Quarterfinals: Defeated Bethany's Alecio and Olsen (6-1, 6-3)
- Semifinals: Defeated Oklahoma Christian's Tiberti and Poboril (7-5, 1-6, 10-5)
- Championship Match: Defeated Fresno Pacific's Carvalho and Martinet (6-7 (6), 7-6 (12), 6-4)
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Freeman Wins 2011 ITA/NAIA National Singles Title |
Junior Chris Freeman gave Embry-Riddle Men's Tennis its second national championship in a 24-hour span, and the second-ever ITA/NAIA National Singles Championship, following in Mislav Hizak's footsteps from 2005-07. Freeman outlasted Oklahoma Christian's Bruno Tiberti, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to win the crown, less than a day after teammates Adrian Bayh and Patrick Besch won the 2011 ITA/NAIA National Doubles Championship. Freeman advanced to the championship match of the ITA Small College "Super Bowl" in 2011, falling to Rollins' Lucas Jovita.
Freeman earned both NAIA and ITA All-America honors in 2011, helping the Eagles to the semifinals of the NAIA National Championships. |
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Freeman's Career Highlights
- ITA/NAIA National Singles Champion (2011)
- Two-time ITA All-American (2011, 12)
- Two-time NAIA first team All-American (2011, 12)
- Recipient of the NAIA's Ward-Ballinger Award (2011)
- Two-time Sun Conference Player of the Year (2011, 12)
- Two-time first team All-Sun Conference (2011, 12)
- CoSIDA Academic All-America first team honoree (2012)
- NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete (2012)
- Academic All-Conference (2012)
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Woodard Lays Claim to Four National Championships |
Reta Woodard won the first field national championship in Embry-Riddle track & field history in the spring of 2012 with a dominating performance in the indoor weight throw in Geneva, Ohio at the NAIA Indoor National Championships. A native of Spring Hill, Fla., Woodard easily won the event with a school-record mark of 18.50m, 0.68m further than the second-place finisher. Woodard helped the Eagles to a fourth-place finish at the national meet, the team's best-ever finish.
As a junior, Woodard doubled her national title total with the outdoor hammer throw crown, taking home top honors with a meet record distance of 61.67m. Woodard's record throw broke a mark that stood for four years.
In 2014, Woodard again doubled up on her national crowns with a pair of titles, the first coming indoors with a weight throw championship after a throw of 18.89m in Geneva, Ohio, becoming the second three-time NAIA national champion in Embry-Riddle history.
Woodard wasn't done at three titles however, claiming the 2014 outdoor hammer throw championship in Gulf Shores, Ala. Woodard's throw of 55.46m secured her fourth national championship as she became ERAU's first four-time NAIA National Championship winner. |
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Woodard's Career Highlights
- NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Champion: weight throw (2012, 2014)
- NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Champion: hammer throw (2013, 2014)
- 10-time NAIA Track & Field All-American (hammer throw, weight throw, discus)
- Four-time Sun Conference Field Athlete of the Year (2011, 12, 13, 14)
- 15-time Sun Conference Field Athlete of the Week
- Owns five Embry-Riddle women's track records
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Bonk Race Walks Her Way to Trio of NAIA Titles |
One of the more improbable stories in Embry-Riddle history, junior Nicole Bonk won both the indoor and outdoor NAIA Track & Field race walk titles in 2012 in just her second season of competition in the sport. Following that feat with another indoor national championship in 2013. Bonk, who came to Embry-Riddle as a women's soccer recruit, started running the event in the middle of the 2011 track season, excelling so much that she earned a spot in the Indoor National Meet as a junior. Hailing from Chalfont, Penn., Bonk broke away from the pack and won the 3000m race walk by over 36 seconds on Mar. 2, finishing in a time of 14:41.95, an ERAU scool record.
Bonk did the same in the outdoor 5000m race walk, finishing more than 24 second in front of the second-place finisher, Janelle Brown of Cornerstone. Bonk's time of 26:43.05 allowed her to claim her second national title in two months.
As a senior, Bonk broke not only the NAIA record at the Indoor National Championships, but the collegiate record, posting a time of 13:53.63, three seconds better than the previous record that stood for 11 years. Bonk became the third Eagle and second women's track & field athlete to claim three NAIA national titles. |
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Bonk's Career Highlights
- NAIA Indoor Track & Field Champion: 3000m race walk (2012, 2013)
- NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Champion: 5000m race walk (2012)
- Five-time NAIA Track & Field All-American (3000m race walk, 5000m race walk, 4x800m relay)
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Besch Wins Fifth ITA/NAIA National Singles Title in Men's Tennis History
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Patrick Besch added an ITA/NAIA National Singles title to his ITA/NAIA National Doubles title as the native of Mainz, Germany downed top-ranked Nicholas Pinones of Auburn-Montgomery in the fall of 2012 to claim the program's fifth national singles title and second in two years. Besch overcame a 5-4 deficit in the first set to claim a 7-5 victory in the opener, but Pinones battled back with a similar 7-5 win in the second set to knot the match. A tie-breaker was forced after the two players played to a 6-6 tie in the final set, and as Besch led 6-4, Pinones double faulted on his serve to give Besch the championship.
Besch helped lead the Eagles to the 2013 NAIA National Championship in the spring, earning first team NAIA and ITA All-America honors. |
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Besch's Career Highlights
- ITA/NAIA National Singles Champion (2012)
- ITA/NAIA National Doubles Champion (2011)
- Three-time ITA All-American (2012, 13, 14)
- Four-time NAIA All-American (2011, 12, 13, 14)
- Four-time first team All-Conference (2011, 12, 13, 14)
- Two-time Capital One Academic All-American (2012, 13)
- Three-time Academic All-Conference (2012, 13, 14)
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Edwards Jumps to Two NAIA High Jump Championships |
Embry-Riddle's Mike Edwards became just the second men's track & field athlete to claim an NAIA National Championship when he won the 2013 NAIA Indoor Track & Field high jump crown. The senior from Manchester, England then repeated the accomplishment with the high jump title at the 2013 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. Edwards won the indoor title with a jump of 2.18m and followed it up with a jump of 2.22m at the outdoor event.
Edwards' two high jump national championships marked the first field titles in Embry-Riddle men's track & field history. |
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Edwards' Career Highlights
- NAIA Indoor Track & Field Champion: high jump (2013)
- NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Champion: high jump (2013)
- Two-time NAIA All-American (high jump)
- Embry-Riddle record-holder in the indoor and outdoor high jump
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Marova and Huang Win 2013 USTA/ITA National Doubles Title |
The Embry-Riddle women's tennis pair of Kristina Marova and Hui-I Huang capped off an improbable tournament run with the second USTA/ITA National Small College Doubles Championship in the fall of 2013. The un-seeded duo didn't even win the ITA regional, but registered four upset wins en route to the title.
Marova and Huang had to win a play-in match against a familiar foe in St. Thomas' Kovalska and Bongiovanni before upsetting the third-seed team from Oklahoma Baptist to advance to the semifinal round.
Evangel's second-seeded pair of Fritz and Elliott fell to the Eagle duo in straight sets (6-0, 6-1) in the first of two matches on the final day of the tournament. In the title match, Huang and Marova rolled to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Lindsey Wilson's King and Rodriguez, claiming the title for Embry-Riddle. |
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Road to the Title
- Play-in: Defeated St. Thomas' Kovalska and Bongiovanni (6-4, 6-4)
- Quarterfinals: Defeated Oklahoma Baptists' Shkot and Baranova (3-6, 6-0, 10-7)
- Semifinals: Defeated Evangel's Grossklag-Friz and Elliot (6-0, 6-1)
- Championship Match: Defeated Lindsey Wilson's King and Rodriguez (6-3, 6-2)
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Felix and Zmak Capture 2013 National Doubles Title |
Simon Felix and Deni Zmak won the Embry-Riddle men's tennis program's third USTA/ITA National Small College Doubles Championship in 2013, sweeping through three matches in straight sets for the title. Felix and Zmak would go on to win the "Super Bowl" title and advancing to the 2013 USTA/ITA Natiomal Indoor Intercollegiate Championships at the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. where they would eventually bow out to eventual champs Narayana and Schnur from Columbia.
Felix and Zmak, seeded fourth in the tournament, downed Westmont's Goranson and Bertram (6-2, 7-5) to advance to the semis where they dispatched top-seeded Bogajo and Charters from Lindsey Wilson (6-3, 6-1).
In the title match, the Eagle duo outlasted the Aubum Montgomery pair of Pinones-Haltenholf and Grifol (6-2, 7-6 (5)) to win the championship, the first since 2011 for ERAU. |
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Road to the Title
- Quarterfinals: Defeated Westmont's Goranson and Bertram (6-2, 7-5)
- Semifinals: Defeated Lindsey Wilson's Bogajo and Charters (6-3, 6-1)
- Championship Match: Defeated Auburn Montgomery's Pinones-Haltenholf and Grifol (6-2, 7-6 (5))
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Zmak Wins Back-to-Back ITA Singles Crowns |
Deni Zmak became only the second student-athlete in ERAU men's tennis history to win back-to-back ITA/NAIA national singles titles. In 2013, he drew the top seed in the NAIA bracket and earned three two-set victories win the NAIA crown. He then beat West Florida's Bruno Savi (6-3, 6-4) and Mate Cutura (5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-4) in the "Super Bowl" championship, joining Mislav Hizak as the only Eagles to claim such honors.
A year later, Zmak drew the top seed in the NAIA singles bracket, but going into the title match his opponent, Georgia Gwinett's Jordan Cox was the favorite. Zmak, who was the top-ranked NAIA player for the entire 2013-14 season, showed he was worthy of both that ranking and his tournament seeding as he easily dispatched Cox in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1, to claim the 2014 national crown. |
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Zmak's Career Highlights
- ITA/NAIA National Singles Champion (2013, 2014)
- ITA Small College "Super Bowl" Champion (2013)
- Two-time IT All-American (2013, 2014)
- Two-time NAIA All-American (2013, 2014)
- Three-time Sun Conference Player of the Year (2013, 2014)
- NAIA's Ward-Ballinger Award Winner (2013)
- Three-time first team All-Sun Conference (2013-14)
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Sanchez-Canamares and Zmak Win 2014 National Doubles Title |
Jaime Sanchez-Canamares Rios and Deni Zmak teamed up to capture the 2014 USTA/ITA NAIA doubles national title. The top-seeded Eagles' opponent in the championship was the Westmont pair of Joshua Barnard and Carl-Phillip Lindquist who registered a three-set upset of the second-seeded team to earn a spot in the title match.
The match was the second of the day for the Eagle duo who bested Northwestern Ohio's Thommy Johansson and Daniel Rueda 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the semifinals on Friday afternoon to advance to the Friday evening title match.
The Westmont team appeared to have the match in hand as they took a 5-4 lead in the second and served for the match. But Zmak and Sanchez-Canamares showed that they should never be counted out as they surged back to win three straight games to take the set 7-5 and force a third frame. The momentum swung firmly in the Eagles' favor in the third set and Sanchez-Canamares and Zmak rolled to a 6-1 victory and the NAIA national doubles title.
Zmak made program history as he became the first in ERAU men's tennis history to win two national doubles titles. |
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Road to the Title
- Quarterfinals: Defeated Georgia Gwinnett's Clements and McPhee (6-3, 7-5)
- Semifinals: Defeated Northwestern's Johansson and Rueda (6-3, 7-6 (4))
- Championship Match: Defeated Westmont's Barnard and Lundquist (5-7, 7-5, 6-1)
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Staker Wins 800m Indoor National Title |
Embry-Riddle's Ellie Staker claimed the first individual national championship of her illustrious collegiate career when she finished first in the 800m final at the 2015 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships.
Staker entered the event with the fastest 800m time of the year in the NAIA. She moved from the middle of the pack to take the lead at the beginning of the race's second lap and maintained that position for the rest of the race. The event's second place finisher, Hannah Segrave of Milligan, tried to make a push for the top spot throughout the final 150m of the race, but Staker was able to hold her off to claim her first ever national title with a personal and school record time of 2:09.59. |
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Staker's Career Highlights
- NAIA Indoor Track & Field Champion: 800m (2015)
- 12-time NAIA All-American (indoor: mile, 1,000m, 4x400; outdoor: 1,500m, 800m, 4x400, 4x800)
- Embry-Riddle record-holder in the 800m |
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Beckwith Wins NCAA II Outdoor National Title |
Ukeyvia Beckwith made Embry-Riddle Athletics history on May 27, 2023. The senior from Orlando, Florida became the first ERAU student-athlete to win a national title in the Eagles' Division II era, winning the 800m title at the NCAA II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
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Beckwith entered as the favorite to win the event with the fastest time in NCAA II this season. After cruising to second place in Friday’s preliminary round, Beckwith, racing out of lane eight took control of the lead at the 400-meter mark and never looked back. She won the race in 2:06.73, more than a second ahead of the second-place finisher to bring the first NCAA II title back to Daytona Beach.
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Beckwith's Career Highlights
- NCAA II Outdoor National Champion: 800m (2023)
- Four-time NAIA All-American (indoor: 800m; outdoor : 800m )
- Embry-Riddle record-holder in the indoor high jump, outdoor high jump and 4x400m relay |
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