2008 Woodie Awards
Columnist welcomes new students
Blake Toppmeyer
Issue date: 8/17/08 Section: Sports
Question: Which Bulldog teams are the best?
Answer: The women's teams. In the last decade, the Bulldog women have racked up 30 conference championships and won seven national titles.
The national titles all are courtesy of the women's swim team, which has finished first or second in the nation in each of the last nine years.
The men's side, however, is no slouch. In fact, of the 13 Truman teams that keep a win-loss record, nine had winning seasons last year.
And of the eight teams that don't keep a win-loss record, five teams had individual athletes who qualified for nationals.
Question: Who are the best athletes?
There are countless standout athletes at Truman. Just because Truman isn't a Div. I school doesn't mean the athletes aren't talented.
But there are three names in particular to remember. First is Matt Ticich, the football team's senior quarterback.
Ticich was second in the MIAA in passing yards and first in touchdown passes in 2007. He could make a run this year at the Harlon Hill Award, Div. II's version of the Heisman Trophy.
Next is Georgia Mueller, a senior forward on the women's basketball team. Mueller, the 2007-08 Index Athlete of the Year, led the conference by averaging 22 points per game last season and is a strong candidate for MIAA Most Valuable Player.
Finally, there is Kate Aherne, a junior on the women's swim team.
If the Bulldogs are to claim an eighth national title this year, they'll likely need another standout performance from Aherne. She racked up seven individual or relay top-nine finishes at nationals last year and is the defending national champion in the 200-yard individual medley.
Question: How is the atmosphere at Truman games?
Answer: To put it bluntly, it stinks. The football team and the men's and women's basketball teams all ranked at or near the bottom of the MIAA in average home attendance.
Now that you're equipped with enough basic knowledge to be a Bulldog fan, go out and watch a few games this season - even if it does mean putting off washing those dirty jeans. You can get one more day out of them.
Answer: The women's teams. In the last decade, the Bulldog women have racked up 30 conference championships and won seven national titles.
The national titles all are courtesy of the women's swim team, which has finished first or second in the nation in each of the last nine years.
The men's side, however, is no slouch. In fact, of the 13 Truman teams that keep a win-loss record, nine had winning seasons last year.
And of the eight teams that don't keep a win-loss record, five teams had individual athletes who qualified for nationals.
Question: Who are the best athletes?
There are countless standout athletes at Truman. Just because Truman isn't a Div. I school doesn't mean the athletes aren't talented.
But there are three names in particular to remember. First is Matt Ticich, the football team's senior quarterback.
Ticich was second in the MIAA in passing yards and first in touchdown passes in 2007. He could make a run this year at the Harlon Hill Award, Div. II's version of the Heisman Trophy.
Next is Georgia Mueller, a senior forward on the women's basketball team. Mueller, the 2007-08 Index Athlete of the Year, led the conference by averaging 22 points per game last season and is a strong candidate for MIAA Most Valuable Player.
Finally, there is Kate Aherne, a junior on the women's swim team.
If the Bulldogs are to claim an eighth national title this year, they'll likely need another standout performance from Aherne. She racked up seven individual or relay top-nine finishes at nationals last year and is the defending national champion in the 200-yard individual medley.
Question: How is the atmosphere at Truman games?
Answer: To put it bluntly, it stinks. The football team and the men's and women's basketball teams all ranked at or near the bottom of the MIAA in average home attendance.
Now that you're equipped with enough basic knowledge to be a Bulldog fan, go out and watch a few games this season - even if it does mean putting off washing those dirty jeans. You can get one more day out of them.
Be the first to comment on this story