2012 UCO Cross Country Media Guide

2 0 1 2 m e d i a g u i d ew w w . b r o n c h o s p o r t s . c o m

printed by

2012 bronchocross country

sept. 8 uco Land run EDMonD 8am

Sept. 15 Southern Stampede Joplin, Mo. 8am

Sept. 22 OCU Fall Classic Oklahoma City, Okla. 8am

Sept. 29 Cowboy Jamboree Stillwater, Okla. 8am

Oct. 6 Midwestern State University Wichita Falls, Texas 8am

Oct. 20 Mid-America Intercollegiate Maryville, Mo. 8am

Athletics Association Championships

Nov. 3 NCAA Division II Regional Championships Joplin, Mo. 8am

Nov. 17 NCAA Division II Championships Joplin, Mo. 8am

TM

2012 ScheduleDate Event Site TimeSept. 8 UCO Land Run Edmond 8:00 a.m.Sept. 15 Southern Stampede Joplin, Mo. 9:00 a.m.Sept. 22 OCU Fall Classic Oklahoma City 8:00 a.m.Sept. 29 Cowboy Jamboree Stillwater, Okla. 8:00 a.m.Oct. 6 Midwestern State Invitational Wichita Falls, Texas 9:00 a.m.Oct. 20 MIAA Championships Maryville, Mo. 9:00 a.m.Nov. 3 NCAA Division II Regional Joplin, Mo. 10:00 a.m.

School NickName“Bronchos” was the nickname selected

for Central Oklahoma in 1922 by Mrs. C.W. Wantland, wife of long-time UCO football coach C.W. Wantland. The name was chosen from a number of suggestions for the name of UCO’s football team and became the nickname for all athletic teams at the school.

Mrs. Wantland was made an honorary member of the Letterman’s Club as a result of selecting the nickname, becoming the first woman admitted to that organization. School colorS

Bronze and blue were chosen as Central Oklahoma’s school colors in 1895 by school president Edmund Dandridge Murdaugh. The first public display of the bronze and blue was in Guthrie when a student repre-

sented UCO in the first oratorical contest ever held in Oklahoma. ProductioN creditS

The 2012 Central Oklahoma women’s cross country media guide was written, edited and designed by Mike Kirk of the UCO Athletic Media Relations Office.

Featured on the front cover is Bailey Hawkins (left) and Brooke Klimek. On the back cover is Jacquelynn Skocik (left) and Katie Kerns.

Cover design was done by UCO Art Director Craig Beuchaw.

Photographs were provided by Dan Smith, director of UCO Photographic Services Department.

The 2012 media guide was printed at the UCO printCentral, NUC 146.

athletic admiNiStratioN

Serving as Central Oklahoma’s Director of Athletic Compliance is Darnell Smith, who took over the position in June of 2010 after serving in the same capacity at the University of New Mexico.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Smith was a four-year member of the Oklahoma State football team from 2002-06 at defensive end. He was a three-time recipient of the Arthur Ashe Scholar award at OSU and also earned second-team honors on the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Team.

Darnell was named OSU’s Outstanding Senior and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from there. He served as a graduate assistant in the OSU compliance office in 2007-08 and worked as a management development trainee

for the United States Olympic Committee from June 2008 to February 2009.Smith went to New Mexico in February of 2009 and was there until coming to UCO.He is married (Candace).

Gunnar Poff is in his third year with the Central Oklahoma Athletic Depart-ment, coordinating ticket sales for the Bronchos while also assisting in a host of other roles related to game-day operations.

A native of Sayre, Poff earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Southwestern Oklahoma in 2007. Gunnar was a pitcher on the baseball team while at SWOSU.

He went on to earn a master’s of education in intercollegiate athletics ad-ministration in 2009 from the University of Oklahoma, working in the office of event management during his tenure with the Sooners.

Poff is married (Tessa) and has two daughters (Presley and Piper).

In his second year with the Central Oklahoma athletic department is Brandon Baker, who is responsible for corporate sponsorships and marketing for athletic events on the UCO campus, working with local, regional and national busi-nesses to create memorable experiences for both fans and sponsors.

Baker was at the Oklahoma City RedHawks for 10 years before coming to UCO, working with corporate sponsorships, baseball operations, game-day experience and ticket office manager. He spent two years prior to that with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

A native of Fulton, Mo., Baker is a University of Missouri graduate and was involved with the Mizzou chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Baker is married (Erin) and has two sons (Benjamin and Evan).

In his 25th year as Central Oklahoma’s director of athletic media relations is Mike Kirk, whose main duty is to keep local, state and national media informed about UCO’s 14 varsity sports.

Kirk started his career in sports information as a student assistant at Oklahoma State University, where he worked for four years before graduating in 1982 with a journalism degree.

He was a sports writer at newspapers in McAlester and Lawton for five years before starting his UCO career on Nov. 2, 1987.

An active member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) who has served on several committees during his career, Kirk worked

as the Press Information Manager for wrestling at the 1996 Olympic Games.He is in his third year as a member of the NCAA Wrestling Championships Committee, serving

as the chair of the Division II Committee in 2012-13.Kirk has received 58 CoSIDA publication awards at UCO, including 27 Best in the Nation citations. Mike is married (Debbie) and has two children (Alex and Jessica).

the miaaCentral Oklahoma is in its first year as a

member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

The MIAA, a 15-member conference of NCAA Division II institutions in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma, was first organized in 1912 as the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Associa-tion.

Over the past 100 years, the MIAA has gained the reputation of being one of the top NCAA Division II confer-ences in the nation. MIAA schools have won 15 NCAA team championships and, since 1964, over 160 individual national titles.

The conference was first organized in 1912 with 14 member institutions. Of those original members, Central Missouri, Truman State and

Northwest Missouri still remain a part of the MIAA.

Other schools in the league are Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Lincoln, Missouri Southern, Missouri Western, Pittsburg State, South-west Baptist and Washburn, with UCO, Lindenwood, Nebraska-Kearney and Northeastern State all joining the conference this year.

That leaves the MIAA with 15 schools, which will drop to 14 af-

ter the 2012-13 school year when Truman leaves.The MIAA conducts championships in eight

sports for men (football, cross country, basket-ball, indoor and outdoor track & field, baseball, tennis and golf) and nine for women (volleyball, cross country, soccer, basketball, indoor and out-door track & field, softball, golf and tennis).

2012 uco croSS couNtry 2012 uco croSS couNtry

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2012 UCO CrOss COUntry

UCO QUiCk FaCtsMailing Address: 100 North University Edmond, OK 73034 Founded: Dec. 24, 1890 President: Dr. Don Betz Athletic Director: Joe MullerSenior Associate AD: Scott Williams Director of Compliance: Darnell SmithTicket Coordinator: Gunnar PoffHead Athletic Trainer: Ed Kabrick Faculty Representative: Trey Cone National Affiliation: NCAA Division II Conference: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics AssociationNickname: Bronchos School Colors: Bronze and Blue Enrollment: 17,101

UCO CrOss COUntry staFF DireCtOry(405 Area Code) University of Central Oklahoma Switchboard ......................................................974-2000Athletic Department Fax ......................................................................................974-3820 OfficeAthletic Department ............................................................................................. 974-2501 Athletic Director .................................................................................................. 974-2502 Joe Muller ([email protected]) Senior Associate Athletic Director ....................................................................... 974-2137 Scott Williams ([email protected]) Head Cross Country Coach .................................................................................. 974-2165 J.D. Martin ([email protected])

Head Athletic Trainer ........................................................................................... 974-2188 Ed Kabrick ([email protected])

CrOss COUntry FaCtsHead Coach: J.D. MartinYears at UCO: EightLettermen Returning/Lost: 4/4Conference Titles: One (2000)

athletiC MeDia relatiOnsDirector of Media Relations: Mike Kirk Office: (405) 974-2142 Home: (405) 348-4897 Cell: (405) 615-2233 Fax: (405) 974-3820 Email: [email protected] Website: www.bronchosports.com

table OF COntentsGeneral inFOrMatiOnUCO Quick Facts/Directory .......................1Head Coach .................................................2 seasOn OUtlOOk/Players2012 Season Outlook/Roster .......................4Player Profiles ........................................ 5-8

abOUt UCOThe University .......................................... 10President .................................................... 11Athletic Director/Associate AD ................ 12Athletic Administration ....................... I.B.C.

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J.D. Martin

Now in his ninth year at the helm of the Central Okla-homa women’s cross country program is veteran coach J.D. Martin, who directed the University of Oklahoma to national prominence during a lengthy career with the Sooners.

Martin took over the UCO reigns in April of 2004 and led the Bronchos to top-four Lone Star Conference fin-ishes six times in seven years, highlighted by a runner-up showing in his first year en route to winning league Coach of the Year honors. J.D. coached six All-LSC performers

during UCO’s association with that league.Martin also serves as an assistant coach with the women’s track and field program

that resuming competing in 2010, working with distance runners and sprinters.A native of Erick and a graduate of OU, Martin served as track and field/cross

country coach for the Sooners for 33 years (1964-97) and was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

He coached 22 individual track and field national cham-pions and countless Big Eight and Big 12 winners at OU, lead-ing the Sooners to six top-five national finishes.

J.D. also coached two future Olympic gold medalists (Jason Rouser and Roxbert Martin) while at OU.

Martin was a three-time All-American in the pole vault as a competitor with the Sooners, winning the national title in 1960. He once owned the world record in the pole vault and was a gold medalist in the decathlon at the 1963 Pan American Games.

J.D. is married (Delma) and has two children (Stan and Mandy) and five grand-children.

heaD COaCh


OUtlOOk/Player PrOFiles

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Four returning starters should help ease Central Oklahoma’s transition to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in 2012, with the Bronchos hoping to make an impact in their new league.

Senior Bailey Hawkins, junior Ka-tie Kerns and sophomores Brooke Klimek and Jacquelynn Skocik are back from last year and all look to be much improved.

Senior Emily Leahey has been a surprise addition to the team in the early going after playing on the UCO golf team the previous four years, while sophomore transfer Ashlyn Wilhite and freshman Rebekah Hickman also look to be factors.

Senior Cara Cox will sit out a redshirt year with injury, but the four other returners should help ease that loss.

“We have a chance to be solid if we can stay healthy,” ninth-year head coach J.D. Martin said. “Losing Cara really hurt, but we’ve got a good group of returners and I think some of the new girls can step in and help.”

seasOn OUtlOOk

2012 rOster Name Ht. Class Hometown (High School)Cara Cox 5-6 Sr. Yukon (Yukon)Bailey Hawkins 5-6 Sr. Oklahoma City (Western Heights)Rebekah Hickman 5-6 Fr. Ardmore (Plainview)Katie Kerns 5-5 Jr. Pryor (Pryor)Brooke Klimek 5-8 So. Purcell (Purcell)Emily Leahey 5-6 Sr. Ardmore (Plainview)Jacquelynn Skocik 5-9 So. Jenks (Jenks)Ashlyn Wilhite 5-5 So. Gillette, Wyo. (Campbell County)

Klimek was far and away UCO’s leader last year, winning three titles during a fabulous freshman season and placing 18th in the regional meet. She should be even better this fall and will be a threat to win every race she runs.

Hawkins has been impressive in early-season workouts and is ready to end her career on a high note, while Kerns and Skocik are both poised to contribute

even more this season.Leahey has shown she can be one of the team’s top-four runners, with Wilhite and Hickman both rebounding from injury. Wilhite had a solid freshman season as a starter at Black Hills State last year, while Hickman is coming off a stellar high school career.

“The MIAA is a tough league from top to bottom,”

said Martin, whose team is picked to finish ninth in the 12-team confer-ence. “We’re going to have to work hard and improve every week, but I like our team and I like our chances.”Brooke Klimek

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Senior leader who will probably miss the season due to injuries suffered in an off-season car accident . . . Put together a fine junior season and would have definitely been a key force this fall, but is set to redshirt and return in 2013 . . . Hopes to be back for the spring track season.

2011: Started all year and had a trio of top-10 placings in helping lead the Bronchos to the team title in all three meets . . . Opened the season with a seventh-place showing in the UCO Land Run, finished a career-best fourth at the OCU Fall Classic and came in 10th at the Oklahoma Baptist Invitational.

2010: Finished 21st in the season-opening UCO Land Run and then missed the next four meets to injury . . . Returned for the post-season, running in both the Lone Star Conference Championships and the NCAA Division II South Central Regional.

2009: Competed in all seven meets as a rookie and registered a pair of top-20 finishes . . . Came in 19th in her first-ever collegiate race at the UCO Land Run and was also 19th in the LSC Championships.

High School: Cross country-track standout at Yukon High School . . . Won regional cham-pionships in the mile and two mile as a junior.

Personal: Art major . . . Birthdate is Feb. 23, 1991.

5-6 • Senior • Yukon

Cara COx

Senior veteran back for another year of starting duty . . . Came in as a junior college transfer last year and proved to be a valuable addition . . . Has plenty of experi-ence and is poised for a banner final season.

2011: Helped lead the Bronchos to three meet titles and had a pair of top-20 finishes . . . Came in a season-best seventh at the Oklahoma Baptist Invitational and was 16th in the OCU Fall Classic.

Juco: Ran two years at Cowley, helping the Tigers to the national title in 2010 after a fourth-place finish in 2009 . . . Had back-to-back 16th-place showings in the regional meet.

5-6 • Senior • oklahoma CitY

bailey hawkins

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Two-year starter ready to again be one of UCO’s top runners . . . Has been a consistent per-former throughout her career and is looking to be even better this fall . . . Experienced junior who will be a key force for the Bronchos in 2012.

2011: Enjoyed a steady sophomore campaign with a pair of top-20 finishes . . . Placed a season-best 12th in the OCU Fall Classic and was 16th in the Oklahoma Baptist Invitational in addition to finishing 21st in the season-opening UCO Land Run to help the Bronchos win the team title in all three meets . . . Also came in a solid 45th at the rugged Cowboy Jamboree.

2010: Was one of just two runners to compete in all seven meets and had four top-25 finishes . . . Opened her career in style with a third-place effort in the season-opening UCO Land Run . . . Came in 14th at the Midwestern State Invitational, was 24th at the Bison Invitational and 25th at the Lone Star Conference Championships.

5-5 • Junior • PrYor

katie kerns

High School: Cross country/track standout at Western Heights High School . . . State placer in the two-mile run in track.

Personal: Criminal justice major looking to become a police officer . . . Names the Oklahoma City Thunder as her favorite professional team . . . Birthdate is April 9, 1991.

Rookie newcomer with a chance to provide immediate help . . . Was slowed by a knee injury to start the preseason, but should see plenty of action this year.

High School: Cross country/track star at Plainview High School in Ardmore, earning All-State honors in both . . . State runner-up in cross country and ran on state championship 3,200-meter relay team in track . . . Helped lead track squad to two state titles.

Personal: Undecided on a major . . . Birthdate is March 19, 1993.

5-6 • FreShman • ardmore

rebekah hiCkMan

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Sophomore star looking to be one of the top performers in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association this fall . . . Burst on the collegiate scene in impressive fashion as a rookie last year and is ready to build on that success . . . Looks to be much improved with the experience gained as a freshman and is ready to do even more in 2012.

2011: Started her career in style by winning the first two meets of the year, coasting to a runaway triumph in the season-opening UCO Land Run and following it two weeks later with a victory in the OCU Fall Classic . . . Also captured the crown in the Oklahoma Baptist Invitational, leading the Bronchos to the team title in all three events . . . Came in 11th at the always-tough Cowboy Jamboree and finished 18th in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional.

High School: Enjoyed a productive career at Purcell High School . . . Placed fourth in the Class 3A state cross country meet as a senior and then scored 20 of her team’s 52 points in the state track meet, winning the 3,200-meter title while placing second in the 1,600 and fifth in the 800.

Personal: Biology major . . . Shows horses on the side, having competed in the World Championships . . . Birthdate is May 12, 1993.

5-8 • SoPhomore • PurCell

brOOke kliMek

Senior newcomer ready to step in and help out this fall after spending the previous four years on the UCO golf team . . . Superb athlete with the ability to be a factor from the outset.

UCO: Redshirted last year after starting the previous three years for the Bronchos . . . Had an 80.5 career average in 29 tournaments with 10 top-10 finishes, winning one title.

5-6 • Senior • ardmore

eMily leahey

High School: Enjoyed stellar career at Pryor High School, earning cross country All-State recognition as a senior and running on a state championship 3,200-meter relay team.

Personal: History education major . . . Names Kevin Durant as her favorite sports star . . . Member of Alpha Lamda Delta honor society . . . Birthdate is Dec. 27, 1991.

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Sophomore who saw extensive action last year for the Bronchos . . . Should benefit from the experience gained in 2011 and looks to have a bigger impact this season.

2011: Ran in four meets while missing some time to injury . . . Opened the season in impressive fashion with sixth-place showing in UCO Land Run and placed 28th in the OCU Fall Classic to help the Bronchos win both meets.

High School: Capped her career by winning the Class 6A state championship as a senior with the fastest time in the state.

Personal: Nutrition and fashion marketing major . . . Lists “Pre-fontaine” among her favorite sports movies . . . Has 10 siblings . . . Birthdate is Sept. 29, 1991.

5-9 • SoPhomore •JenkS

JaCQUelynn skOCik

Sophomore transfer recovering from an off-season stress fracture . . . Should see plenty of action when healthy and definitely has a chance to help the Bronchos this fall . . . Spent her freshman year at Division II rival Black Hills State.

BHSU: Started all year for the Yellowjackets and had three top-25 finishes . . . Best effort was a 13th-place showing in season-opening South Dakota Mines Open.

High School: All-Stater as a senior at Campbell County High School in Gillette, Wyo., win-ning state titles in the 800-meter run and 3,200-meter relay.

Personal: Kinesiology major looking to become a physical therapist . . . Salutatorian at CCHS . . . Lists Trevor Hall as her top music artist . . . Birthdate is June 28, 1993.

5-5 • SoPhomore • Gillette, WYo.

ashlyn wilhite

High School: Class 3A state champion golfer as a senior at Plainview High School in Ardmore . . . Also a basketball All-Stater and track letterman for the Indians.

Personal: Dietetics major . . . Enjoys mountain biking among her hobbies . . . Names the Oklahoma City Thunder as her top pro team . . . Birthdate is July 31, 1989.


abOUt UCO

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The University of Central Oklahoma prepares future leaders in an opportunity-rich environ-ment, ideally located in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

Central offers an innovative learning community where teaching comes first and students develop personal relationships with faculty and staff who are committed to transforming lives. With 114 undergraduate majors and 54 graduate programs, Central is a smart investment for students dedicated to their future success.

Central is home to students from throughout Oklahoma, as well as all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Among Central’s many unique and notable academic programs are Forensic Science, Accounting, Music Theater, Profes-sional Golf Management, Jazz Studies, Mass Communication, Nursing, and Funeral Science.

Central is:• Home to the world-renown Forensic Sci-

ence Institute, which attracts experts from throughout the world to teach students and law enforcement professionals the latest techniques in crime fighting.

• Rated by The Chronicle of Higher Educa-tion as one of the “2010 Great Colleges to Work For.”

• Winner of multiple national and statewide awards for sustainability efforts

• An official Olympic and Paralympic Train-ing Site, as designated by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

• Home to the Academy of Contemporary Music at UCO, located in Oklahoma City’s

Bricktown district.• Partnered with Chesapeake Energy to build the CHK-Central Boathouse on the Oklahoma

River, which will house Central’s rowing team as well as an entertainment venue and an art gallery.

• Home to 2008 Carnegie Foundation Professor of the Year, Dr. Wei Chen.• Ranked among the top universities nationally in residence life.In Fall 2010, Central opened the new state-of-the-art Center for Transformative Learning,

a classroom building designed intentionally to encourage collaboration and creativity in its learning spaces. In addition, Central’s appealing 210-acre campus is on track to become a certified botanical garden, offering both a pleasing learning and living environ-ment and a source of pride for students, employees and alumni.

Founded in 1890, the University of Central Oklahoma is the state’s first public institution of higher learning, and continues to cultivate creativ-ity and innovation in every corner of campus, bringing to life its core values of Character, Community and Civility each day.

the University

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Dr. DOn betz Now in his second year as Central Oklahoma’s president

is Dr. Don Betz, who became the school’s 20th president in August 2011 after having previously served as UCO’s Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs from 1999-2005.

President Betz developed several initiatives and programs that helped transform Central into one of the leading met-ropolitan universities in the nation during his first stint at the school and he’s been the driving force in making UCO a destination of choice in higher education since his return to campus.

President Betz has enjoyed a distinguished career in higher education that spans more than 40 years, developing a reputation for teaching and encouraging students, leadership development and diplomacy through his international activities, most notably with the United Nations and its affiliated non-government orga-nizations.

Prior to returning to UCO, he served as president of Northeastern State, a post he held for three years. He also served as Chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls from 2005 until his appointment at NSU and as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Palmer College (Iowa) from 1994-1999.

In the 23 years prior, he fulfilled various capacities at NSU, including the Vice President of University Relations and Professor of Political Science. While at NSU, he also was the Executive Director of the Educational Foundation, Assistant to the President, Dean of Continuing Education and Special Programs, Director of the Sequoyah Institute/Center for Tribal Studies, the founder and advisor of the university’s President’s Leadership Class and its Model United Nations program.

From 1982 through 2003, President Betz worked for and with the United Nations on Middle East issues. He founded and chaired the International Coordinating Committee on the Question of Palestine (ICCP), a UN-affiliated non-governmental organization (NGO) network pursuing peace in the Middle East based on UN resolutions.

A frequent writer and speaker, Dr. Betz has addressed international, educational, mo-tivational topics, and has worked with newspapers, radio and television. His life-long interest in global issues and his passion for promoting cross-cultural understanding has led him to more than 80 countries.

While president at NSU, he served as the chair of the Northeast Oklahoma Public Fa-cility Authority, board member for BancFirst in Tahlequah, the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce, Creative Oklahoma, Inc., and chair of the Regional University System of Oklahoma Council of Presidents. He is a member of the Oklahoma Academy, Leadership Oklahoma, Universities and Colleges President’s Climate Commitment, International As-sociation of University Presidents and has served as Chairman of AASCU’s International Education Committee.

President Betz received his B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from the Univer-sity of San Francisco and his M.A. and Ph.D. in International Studies from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver. He also completed Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management.

UCO PresiDent

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athletiC aDMinistratiOn

athletiC DireCtOr

JOe MUller Now in his fifth year as athletic director at Central Oklahoma is

Joe Muller, who has helped return the Bronchos to national promi-nence in NCAA Division II.

UCO finished 32nd among more than 300 Division II schools in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings for 2011-12, the highest finish in nearly 15 years for the Bronchos, and the athletic department’s fund-raising efforts have reached new heights.

Muller brought a wealth of Division I experience when he became just the seventh athletic director in school history in July of 2008 after previous stints at Oklahoma State and Purdue.

Joe served as senior associate athletic director for external relations at Purdue for two years before coming to UCO. He oversaw all facets of external relations while at Purdue, including development, marketing and promotions and the John Purdue Club.

A graduate of Stillwater High School, Joe earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from OSU. He served as director of athletic marketing and promotions at OSU from 1985-90 and then was involved in the television industry for more than a decade.

Muller returned to Oklahoma State in 2002 as associate athletic director, serving in that capacity until going to Purdue. His duties included all development activities of the athletic department and under Muller’s watch, OSU raised over $90 million to renovate its football stadium, set football attendance records in 2003, ’04 and ’05 and had all-sport ticket revenues increase more than 115 percent.

Joe is married (Julie) and has three sons (Jaxon, Brandon and Matthew).

seniOr assOCiate aDsCOtt williaMs

Scott Williams is in his third year as Central Oklahoma’s senior associate athletic director, coming to Edmond in December of 2009 after a nearly five-year stint at Oklahoma State.

His main duties include overseeing UCO’s athletic facilities and the day-to-day operations of the athletic department and he was the event manager for three NCAA Division II regional tournaments the Bronchos hosted in 2011-12 -- soccer, wrestling and softball.

Williams was associate athletic director for compliance at OSU for three years, overseeing the entire compliance program. He spent the previous two years at OSU as assistant athletic director

for compliance, with the responsibility of seven varsity programs.Scott spent seven years as assistant athletic director for compliance at Oral Roberts before

going to OSU. He was responsible for all compliance-related matters in addition to supervising eight varsity programs and coordinating all event management activities for home athletic events at ORU.

A 1995 graduate of OSU, Williams earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma in 1998 and worked in the University of Kansas athletic department before going to ORU.

Scott, a product of Deer Creek High School outside Edmond, is married (Tammy) and has four children (J.R., Matthew, Hannah and Luke).

2012 ScheduleDate Event Site TimeSept. 8 UCO Land Run Edmond 8:00 a.m.Sept. 15 Southern Stampede Joplin, Mo. 9:00 a.m.Sept. 22 OCU Fall Classic Oklahoma City 8:00 a.m.Sept. 29 Cowboy Jamboree Stillwater, Okla. 8:00 a.m.Oct. 6 Midwestern State Invitational Wichita Falls, Texas 9:00 a.m.Oct. 20 MIAA Championships Maryville, Mo. 9:00 a.m.Nov. 3 NCAA Division II Regional Joplin, Mo. 10:00 a.m.

School NickName“Bronchos” was the nickname selected

for Central Oklahoma in 1922 by Mrs. C.W. Wantland, wife of long-time UCO football coach C.W. Wantland. The name was chosen from a number of suggestions for the name of UCO’s football team and became the nickname for all athletic teams at the school.

Mrs. Wantland was made an honorary member of the Letterman’s Club as a result of selecting the nickname, becoming the first woman admitted to that organization. School colorS

Bronze and blue were chosen as Central Oklahoma’s school colors in 1895 by school president Edmund Dandridge Murdaugh. The first public display of the bronze and blue was in Guthrie when a student repre-

sented UCO in the first oratorical contest ever held in Oklahoma. ProductioN creditS

The 2012 Central Oklahoma women’s cross country media guide was written, edited and designed by Mike Kirk of the UCO Athletic Media Relations Office.

Featured on the front cover is Bailey Hawkins (left) and Brooke Klimek. On the back cover is Jacquelynn Skocik (left) and Katie Kerns.

Cover design was done by UCO Art Director Craig Beuchaw.

Photographs were provided by Dan Smith, director of UCO Photographic Services Department.

The 2012 media guide was printed at the UCO printCentral, NUC 146.

athletic admiNiStratioN

Serving as Central Oklahoma’s Director of Athletic Compliance is Darnell Smith, who took over the position in June of 2010 after serving in the same capacity at the University of New Mexico.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Smith was a four-year member of the Oklahoma State football team from 2002-06 at defensive end. He was a three-time recipient of the Arthur Ashe Scholar award at OSU and also earned second-team honors on the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Team.

Darnell was named OSU’s Outstanding Senior and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from there. He served as a graduate assistant in the OSU compliance office in 2007-08 and worked as a management development trainee

for the United States Olympic Committee from June 2008 to February 2009.Smith went to New Mexico in February of 2009 and was there until coming to UCO.He is married (Candace).

Gunnar Poff is in his third year with the Central Oklahoma Athletic Depart-ment, coordinating ticket sales for the Bronchos while also assisting in a host of other roles related to game-day operations.

A native of Sayre, Poff earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Southwestern Oklahoma in 2007. Gunnar was a pitcher on the baseball team while at SWOSU.

He went on to earn a master’s of education in intercollegiate athletics ad-ministration in 2009 from the University of Oklahoma, working in the office of event management during his tenure with the Sooners.

Poff is married (Tessa) and has two daughters (Presley and Piper).

In his second year with the Central Oklahoma athletic department is Brandon Baker, who is responsible for corporate sponsorships and marketing for athletic events on the UCO campus, working with local, regional and national busi-nesses to create memorable experiences for both fans and sponsors.

Baker was at the Oklahoma City RedHawks for 10 years before coming to UCO, working with corporate sponsorships, baseball operations, game-day experience and ticket office manager. He spent two years prior to that with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

A native of Fulton, Mo., Baker is a University of Missouri graduate and was involved with the Mizzou chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Baker is married (Erin) and has two sons (Benjamin and Evan).

In his 25th year as Central Oklahoma’s director of athletic media relations is Mike Kirk, whose main duty is to keep local, state and national media informed about UCO’s 14 varsity sports.

Kirk started his career in sports information as a student assistant at Oklahoma State University, where he worked for four years before graduating in 1982 with a journalism degree.

He was a sports writer at newspapers in McAlester and Lawton for five years before starting his UCO career on Nov. 2, 1987.

An active member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) who has served on several committees during his career, Kirk worked

as the Press Information Manager for wrestling at the 1996 Olympic Games.He is in his third year as a member of the NCAA Wrestling Championships Committee, serving

as the chair of the Division II Committee in 2012-13.Kirk has received 58 CoSIDA publication awards at UCO, including 27 Best in the Nation citations. Mike is married (Debbie) and has two children (Alex and Jessica).

the miaaCentral Oklahoma is in its first year as a

member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

The MIAA, a 15-member conference of NCAA Division II institutions in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma, was first organized in 1912 as the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Associa-tion.

Over the past 100 years, the MIAA has gained the reputation of being one of the top NCAA Division II confer-ences in the nation. MIAA schools have won 15 NCAA team championships and, since 1964, over 160 individual national titles.

The conference was first organized in 1912 with 14 member institutions. Of those original members, Central Missouri, Truman State and

Northwest Missouri still remain a part of the MIAA.

Other schools in the league are Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Lincoln, Missouri Southern, Missouri Western, Pittsburg State, South-west Baptist and Washburn, with UCO, Lindenwood, Nebraska-Kearney and Northeastern State all joining the conference this year.

That leaves the MIAA with 15 schools, which will drop to 14 af-

ter the 2012-13 school year when Truman leaves.The MIAA conducts championships in eight

sports for men (football, cross country, basket-ball, indoor and outdoor track & field, baseball, tennis and golf) and nine for women (volleyball, cross country, soccer, basketball, indoor and out-door track & field, softball, golf and tennis).

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2012 bronchocross country

sept. 8 uco Land run EDMonD 8am

Sept. 15 Southern Stampede Joplin, Mo. 8am

Sept. 22 OCU Fall Classic Oklahoma City, Okla. 8am

Sept. 29 Cowboy Jamboree Stillwater, Okla. 8am

Oct. 6 Midwestern State University Wichita Falls, Texas 8am

Oct. 20 Mid-America Intercollegiate Maryville, Mo. 8am

Athletics Association Championships

Nov. 3 NCAA Division II Regional Championships Joplin, Mo. 8am

Nov. 17 NCAA Division II Championships Joplin, Mo. 8am

TM

Documents

2012 UCO Cross Country Media Guide