Valparaiso University Sports Update, June 2, 2017

VU-Packard-Named-NJCAA-All-AmericanPackard Named NJCAA All-American
The Valparaiso University softball team will be welcoming an All-American to the program this fall, as incoming junior pitcher Kelsie Packard was recently tabbed an NJCAA Division III All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association after helping to lead Rock Valley College to the 2017 national title.

Packard was simply unbeatable in the circle for Rock Valley in 2017, finishing the year 23-0 with a 1.29 ERA and striking out 209 batters in 130.2 innings of work. Her strikeout total led the nation, while she ranked second in both wins and ERA, third in shutouts (five) and fourth in opponents’ batting average (.135).

A two-time selection as NJCAA Division III National Pitcher of the Week, Packard tossed two no-hitters during her sophomore season. She registered two shutout victories at the National Championship to help the Golden Eagles claim the title – the program’s fourth consecutive national crown – including a four-hit, nine-strikeout shutout of Herkimer to send RVC to the championship game.

“Kelsie had a tremendous sophomore season, highlighted by a national championship and All-America honors, and we are extremely proud of all of her accomplishments this year” said associate head coach and pitching coach Monica Wright. “Kelsie's competitive nature, desire for growth, and ability to lead in the circle will serve our program well as we transition into the MVC next season. We’re excited to welcome her to our program and our pitching staff this fall, and. I am eager for the opportunity to begin working with her.”

Puetz Remains on NFF College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
Former football standout and Valparaiso Hall of Fame member Garry Puetz ('72) has once again graced the National Football Foundation's (NFF) ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Puetz played 10 seasons in the NFL with five teams following his brilliant career with the Brown and Gold. While with the Crusaders, Puetz was a two-time American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) All-American, and earned Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) honors on three separate occasions.

Puetz is one of two Valpo alums - Fuzzy Thurston the other - who owns the distinction of earning a Super Bowl ring. The Chicago native did so in 1982 with the Washington Redskins. A 12th-round draft choice of the 1973 New York Jets, Puetz played five seasons with the Jets before being acquired by Tampa Bay. He also played briefly with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1979 before signing with New England.

The announcement of the 2018 Hall of Fame Class will be made live on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 in Atlanta prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship.

McMinn to Join Valpo Women’s Golf Program
The Valparaiso University women’s golf team has announced the addition of incoming freshman Grace McMinn (Omaha, Neb. / Marian) for the 2017-2018 season.

McMinn placed ninth in the 2016 Class A Nebraska State Finals and after finishing 22nd the previous season. She was a four-year varsity letter winner and three-time state qualifier as a team and individually.

“Grace is a tremendous student-athlete,” Valpo head coach Jon Haas said. “While excelling in the classroom in high school, she led her team on the golf course. We look forward to having her join our program this fall.”

McMinn was the co-district champion as a junior and placed in the Top 10 in a number of tournaments during her senior campaign. She earned Marian’s Team MVP award for her efforts this past season.

McMinn’s older siblings attended Lincoln, so initially that seemed to be the obvious college choice. But then Valpo came into the picture.

“I really wanted to find a place that had my Lutheran faith represented,” McMinn said. “I went on the website, and I thought the entire campus was absolutely beautiful. I did the virtual tour and was just blown away by the beauty of it.”

McMinn, who plans to major in biochemistry, was actively involved in a variety of activities in high school including worship choir and diversity club. In her spare time, she writes her own blog and takes an interest in literacy and illiteracy across the world.

The newest member of the Crusaders needed all the way until the May 1 deadline to make her college decision, but in the end it became clear Valpo is the right place for her.

“Coach Haas was so gracious to call and keep getting information on where I was in my decision,” McMinn said. “He was really supportive; he wasn’t forceful at all. He was excited to see me go off to college, and it didn’t necessarily mean I had to go to Valparaiso. He supported anything I chose, which was so special. He took me under his wing. When I went out there to meet the team, I felt loved and very welcomed into the program.”

Valpo Football Adds to 2017 Recruiting Class
The Valparaiso University football program has rounded out its 2017 recruiting class with the addition of 16 players, bringing the total number of incoming players to 48.

“We’re very pleased with how our class came together,” Valpo head coach Dave Cecchini said. “We received a number of late commitments, which is always a good sign. We had a number of players who were still working out financial details or had family situations and could not make their decisions by signing day. Some of the athletes were still involved in high school postseason competition at that time, and did not have time to come visit us until later in the spring.”

Of the 16 additions to the recruiting class, eight are from Illinois, three from Florida, three from Ohio, one from Indiana and one from California. Including the 32 players announced on National Signing Day, the Crusaders have 12 from Illinois, 10 from Ohio, eight from Florida and six from Indiana. There are 11 states represented in the incoming class.

“Because we don’t have athletic scholarships, we have the luxury of waiting for these individuals to make a decision,” Cecchini said. “We’re thrilled with the number of players we added. We feel that at the end of the day, we have filled all our needs from a positional standpoint. We’ll have 110 players coming into camp, and it’s as talented of a group of football players as we’ve ever brought into a fall camp.”

Record-Setting Careers of Emhardt, Schorsch End with Close Loss to Nation’s Top Team
Valparaiso University men’s tennis seniors Jeffrey Schorsch (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg) and Charlie Emhardt (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) walked off the court for the final time on Saturday evening with their heads held high.

The best doubles team in Crusader history went out in style, dropping a three-set instant classic to the No. 1 ranked doubles team in the nation, Georgia’s Jan Zielinski and Robert Loeb 6-3, 5-7, 11-9.

The first set stayed on serve through the first four games, but then Georgia broke Valpo’s serve to go up 3-2. The Bulldogs eventually broke serve again in the set’s final game to claim the first set 6-3.

The two teams exchanged breaks early on in Set 2 and ended up back on serve at 5-5. Emhardt and Schorsch came through with a critical point at deuces to claim a 6-5 edge and go up a break. They then held serve to secure the 7-5 win, sending the match to a decisive third set.

Set 3 came right down to the wire, reaching 8-8 and 9-9 deadlocks. Valpo fended off one match point at 9-8, but couldn’t do the same at 10-9, bringing the historic four-year tenure of Emhardt and Schorsch to a halt.

The list of accomplishments for Emhardt and Schorsch the last four seasons goes on and on. Emhardt finished with a program-record 117 doubles wins, while Schorsch owns the program record for career singles victories with 111. Both names can be found all over the program single-season and career record books.

Schorsch became the first player in Horizon League history to win the league’s Player of the Year Award outright three consecutive seasons. As a duo, Emhardt and Schorsch knocked off three teams ranked in the Top 10 nationally, won a match in the team portion of the NCAA Tournament, reached the ITA National Indoor championship match and made it all the way to Saturday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Championships.

A career filled with firsts fittingly concluded with another ascent into previously uncharted territory, as Emhardt and Schorsch became the first All-Americans in program history by virtue of their appearance in the NCAA Doubles Elite Eight.

On top of all the individual records, milestones and accolades, Schorsch and Emhardt were a part of the four-member senior class that was the driving force behind turning Valpo’s program around. The Crusaders finished the team season 23-4, setting the program record for wins for the fourth consecutive year.

And perhaps the most fitting statistic of all, Emhardt and Schorsch finished their four-year collegiate careers with exactly 100 doubles wins as a pair. It’s not the end of the road for the dynamic duo, as both plan to pursue professional tennis careers.