January 8, 2007
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206

Gergel, Coonrod Chosen as Illinois Wesleyan Cross Country MVPs

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Senior Mary Kate Gergel and junior Lane Coonrod have been chosen as the "Most Valuable Performers" for the Illinois Wesleyan women's and men's cross country teams, respectively.
Gergel (Glenwood, Marian Catholic HS) was the Titans’ low finisher at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meet, coming in 27th place with a time of 25:01.35. As a team, IWU placed sixth in the league event.
Coonrod (Quincy, Ill. HS) was IWU’s low finisher in six meets this season, including a 29th place finish at the CCIW meet, where the men’s team placed seventh. He was 54th in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional with a season-best time of 26 minutes, .5 seconds.
In other team honors, freshman Katelyn Draths (Glenview, Ill., Regina Domincan HS) and sophomore Jay Paynda (Prospect Heights, Ill., Hersey HS) were chosen as their respective teams’ “Hardest Workers” while freshmen Kerry Devitt (Tower Lakes, Ill., Carmel HS) and Walter Farris (Woodstock, Ill. HS) were honored as the “Best Newcomers.”
Devitt was IWU’s low finisher in two meets and her time of 25:21.34 was good for 32nd at the conference meet. Farris was second among IWU finishers when he finished 36th at the CCIW meet with a time of 27:52.75.
Head coach Greg Huffaker awarded letters to 12 women and nine men. They are, with hometowns and high schools:

MEN

SENIOR - Jordan Bartle (Wheaton, Ill., Wheaton-Warrenville South)
JUNIORS - Lane Coonrod (Quincy, Ill. HS); Russell Flinchum (Chicago, Ill., Loyola Academy); Adam Wentland (Lake Zurich, Ill. HS)
SOPHOMORES - Jay Paynda (Prospect Heights, Ill., Hersey HS); Greg Van Zuiden (Winnetka, Ill., New Trier HS).
FRESHMEN - Adam Chambers (Niles, Ill., West HS); Walter Farris (Woodstock, Ill. HS); William Hanzel (Glenview, Ill., Glenbrook South HS)

WOMEN
SENIORS - Megan Byrne (Des Plaines, Maine West HS); Mary Kate Gergel (Glenwood, Marian Catholic HS).
JUNIORS - Mary Ellen Barron (Naperville, Neuqua Valley HS); Jenny Baugh (Normal, West HS).
SOPHOMORES – Amy Burns (Bartlett HS); Emily Willenbring (Shoreview, Minn., Mounds View HS).
FRESHMEN – Kerry Devitt (Tower Lakes, Ill., Carmel HS); Katelyn Draths (Glenview, Ill., Regina Domincan HS); Ashley Heilingoetter (Fox River Grove, Ill., Carmel HS); Vanessa Jones (Grand Forks, N. Dak., Red River HS); Kirsten Pufahl (Batavia, Ill. HS); Ewelina Wojnawska (Roselle, Ill., Lake Park HS).